HEALTH

Anti-psychotic Medication

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the prescribing rates in the last three years for which figures are available for atypical, anti- psychotic medication.

Jacqui Smith: The number of items dispensed in the community in England for atypical, anti-psychotic preparations for the period 1998–2000 is shown in the table.
	
		Thousand 
		
			 Year Prescription items 
		
		
			 1998 469.7 
			 1999 772.6 
			 2000 1,149.4 
		
	
	The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and are based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. The PCA system includes not only prescriptions originating from general practices in England but also from nurses, dentists and hospital doctors provided they were dispensed in the community; also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

Patient Consultations

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the new strategic health authorities will have in ensuring effective patient and public involvement.

Hazel Blears: The detail of the roles and responsibilities of strategic health authorities are still being finalised. It is not possible to say at this stage what the precise arrangements will be for ensuring effective patient and public involvement mechanisms.
	We shall be able to be much clearer about the role of strategic health authorities, including how it fits with the new involvement structures, later in the summer.
	The new structures being formulated to strengthen patient and public voice and influence are based on the premise that every aspect of the National Health Service, both delivery and management, should respond to what users of the NHS believe is right for the future of the health services they use. Strategic health authorities will, together with all other bodies in the NHS, need to respond to this important consideration.

Chiropody Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase investment in NHS chiropody services.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan forecast investment in all the allied health professions, which includes chiropodists. This year the Department has commissioned 345 training places, and funded local projects on return to practice from education consortia. Chiropodists are an integral part of the Government patient-focused policy programme, particularly in relation to older people and diabetes, which are part of the national service framework programme.

Medical Negligence

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to replace the law relating to claims for medical negligence with a system of no fault compensation involving payment of modest lump sums and pensions payable for fixed periods up to and including for life.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 144W.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government intend to implement the White Paper on "Reforming the Mental Health Act"; and what plans they have to consult further to ensure that new legislation meets the needs of mental health service users.

Jacqui Smith: We are committed to the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will continue to take account of the views of mental health service users and other key interests as work is carried out to develop the policies set out in the White Paper "Reforming the Mental Health Act" into detailed proposals for new legislation.

Digital Hearing Aids

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the pilot schemes for the availability of digital hearing aids on the NHS; and if he will extend access to digital hearing aids on the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has asked the Institute of Hearing Research (IHR) to conduct a research evaluation of the Modernising National Health Service Hearing Aid Services project. The IHR is expected to present its report in February 2002. The evaluation will help determine how changes in hearing aid services might be extended to all NHS audiology departments.
	If the project is successful we anticipate that by 2003–04 we will be investing an extra £25 million in NHS hearing aid services.
	Pending the outcome of the project, all NHS audiology departments, with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience, are able to apply for access to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids.

Milford Hospital

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of Milford hospital; and if he will visit Milford hospital.

Hazel Blears: West Surrey health authority is currently considering the responses received during the recent public consultation—The Sustainable NHS—Phase ii.
	It would be inappropriate to make any comment on the future of the hospital before the health authority has made a final decision.
	Ministerial commitments will not allow a visit to Milford hospital at this time.

Delayed Treatment

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the delay in the treatment given to Christopher Lewis, of Churchdown, Gloucestershire, by the NHS.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The United Bristol Healthcare National Health Service Trust investigated Mr. Christopher Lewis' complaint about the delays to his treatment under the NHS complaints procedure, and a reply was sent to Mr. Lewis by the chief executive of the trust on 11 June 2001.

Waiting Lists

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future publication of inpatient and outpatient waiting lists in England; and what plans he has to publish further indicators of patient waiting times.

John Hutton: The inpatient waiting list has been reduced by 255,000 since June 1998, and the number of outpatient over-13-week waiters fell by 94,000 over the same period. Information on waiting lists and times will continue to be collected and published.

Waiting Lists

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the level of (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient waiting lists and waiting times at (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust; what the Government's targets are in each category; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what targets for (a) inpatient waiting times, (b) outpatient waiting times, (c) inpatient waiting lists and (d) outpatient waiting lists, he has set for (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement;

Hazel Blears: Information on hospital waiting times is published quarterly by the Department in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England" and "Waiting Times for First Outpatient Appointments in England: Detailed Statistics". This information is also available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.
	The numbers of patients waiting for inpatient or day case treatment at East Somerset National Health Service Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust on 31 March 2001 are shown in the table.
	
		Patients waiting for admission by number of months waiting
		
			  East Somerset Taunton and Somerset 
		
		
			 0–2 months 1,089 3,400 
			 3–5 months 538 2,039 
			 6–11 months 314 1,371 
			 12–17 months 2 28 
			 18+ months 0 0 
			  
			 Total 1,943 6,838 
		
	
	The number of general practitioner written referral requests seen as a first outpatients in Quarter 4 (1 January to 31 March 2001) at East Somerset NHS Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust is shown in the table.
	
		Of those GP referral requests seen, the number who waited (in weeks)
		
			  East Somerset Taunton and Somerset 
		
		
			 0-(1)4 weeks 2,251 4,609 
			 4-(1)13 weeks 2,267 4,299 
			 13-(1)26 weeks 758 2,305 
			 26+ 208 459 
			  
			 Total 5,484 11,672 
		
	
	(1) Less than
	As part of the NHS Plan, the NHS is working towards reducing the current maximum inpatient wait of 18 months to 15 months by March 2002 and reducing the outpatient wait of over six months now to a maximum of six months by March 2002. These targets are part of a staged reduction in waiting times, with inpatient waiting times continuing to fall from 18, to 15, to 12, nine then ultimately six months by 2005. The maximum outpatient waiting time will fall to three months by 2005.

Waiting Lists

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the length of the inpatient waiting list at East Somerset NHS Trust for each of the last 10 years; what his estimate is of the number of (i) inpatients and (ii) outpatients waiting for more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months, for each reporting period over the last 10 years for (A) East Somerset NHS Trust and (B) Taunton NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the tables. Information on inpatients is not available before June 1991; information on outpatients is only available from June 1995.
	
		Inpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1991 to March 2001
		
			   Number of patients on list who have waited: 
			 Quarter Total Over 3 months Over 6 months Over 9 months Over 12 months Over 15 months Over 18 months Over 24 months 
		
		
			 June 1991 1,605 795 406 209 104 n/a n/a 13 
			 September 1991 1,558 724 377 167 82 n/a n/a 7 
			 December 1991 1,604 745 342 177 79 n/a n/a 4 
			 March 1992 1,485 531 196 47 0 n/a n/a 0 
			 June 1992 1,499 610 210 85 17 1 1 0 
			 September 1992 1,601 545 245 71 16 1 0 0 
			 December 1992 1,744 637 228 82 11 1 0 0 
			 March 1993 1,670 611 244 72 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1993 1,869 780 280 98 20 0 0 0 
			 September 1993 1,845 815 342 103 26 1 0 0 
			 December 1993 1,999 704 320 105 12 0 0 0 
			 March 1994 1,725 654 252 76 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1994 1,791 642 231 72 11 2 0 0 
			 September 1994 1,721 685 272 77 7 0 0 0 
			 December 1994 1,610 591 244 51 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1995 1,423 381 138 10 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1995 1,490 457 139 23 0 0 0 0 
			 September 1995 1,673 497 127 15 2 0 0 0 
			 December 1995 1,689 494 123 14 1 0 0 0 
			 March 1996 1,634 421 111 2 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1996 1,691 531 112 9 0 0 0 0 
			 September 1996 2,181 682 169 18 0 0 0 0 
			 December 1996 2,599 983 341 81 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 2,662 1,025 435 146 6 0 0 0 
			 June 1997 2,614 1,122 487 212 64 4 0 0 
			 September 1997 2,537 1,077 482 185 65 23 0 0 
			 December 1997 2,874 1,189 543 206 45 7 0 0 
			 March 1998 2,845 1,251 521 172 5 1 0 0 
			 June 1998 2,660 1,120 493 182 19 2 0 0 
			 September 1998 2,335 965 431 171 22 0 0 0 
			 December 1998 2,485 941 436 183 42 3 0 0 
			 March 1999 2,489 850 382 143 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1999 2,132 812 338 156 39 0 0 0 
			 September 1999 2,294 843 334 136 41 5 0 0 
			 December 1999 2,412 878 356 126 31 6 0 0 
			 March 2000 2,061 803 377 150 31 4 0 0 
			 June 2000 2,081 877 397 183 47 9 0 0 
			 September 2000 2,209 900 410 183 55 3 0 0 
			 December 2000 2,062 937 384 164 38 0 0 0 
			 March 2001 1,943 854 316 96 2 0 0 0 
		
	
	Note
	Data not available prior to June 1991.
	Source:
	KH07 quarterly returns
	
		Inpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1991 to March 2001
		
			   Number of patients on list who have waited: 
			 Quarter Total Over 3 months Over 6 months Over 9 months Over 12 months Over 15 months Over 18 months Over 24 months 
		
		
			 June 1991 6,506 4,126 2,619 1,713 1,094 n/a n/a 289 
			 September 1991 5,844 3,733 2,191 1,269 667 n/a n/a 143 
			 December 1991 5,730 3,103 1,596 792 341 n/a n/a 66 
			 March 1992 5,441 2,648 1,137 352 3 n/a n/a 0 
			 June 1992 5,671 3,102 1,459 525 121 20 15 5 
			 September 1992 5,843 3,156 1,564 505 64 22 3 0 
			 December 1992 6,331 3,113 1,593 599 83 13 8 0 
			 March 1993 6,119 2,932 1,359 431 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1993 5,975 3,094 1,440 462 57 3 2 0 
			 September 1993 5,888 2,931 1,434 481 57 2 1 0 
			 December 1993 5,701 2,897 1,335 469 67 7 4 0 
			 March 1994 5,479 2,528 1,022 243 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1994 5,510 2,491 972 229 0 0 0 0 
			 September 1994 5,222 2,200 798 206 0 0 0 0 
			 December 1994 5,212 1,966 701 157 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1995 4,993 1,884 609 157 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1995 4,995 1,974 480 43 0 0 0 0 
			 September 1995 5,088 1,891 510 22 1 1 0 0 
			 December 1995 5,007 1,748 408 29 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1996 4,899 1,507 292 6 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1996 5,152 1,753 329 22 0 0 0 0 
			 September 1996 5,201 1,831 425 8 0 0 0 0 
			 December 1996 5,898 2,324 648 34 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 6,282 3,001 1,070 219 0 0 0 0 
			 June 1997 6,759 3,198 1,406 376 18 0 0 0 
			 September 1997 6,710 3,296 1,506 566 52 0 0 0 
			 December 1997 7,513 3,569 1,689 695 113 0 0 0 
			 March 1998 7,523 3,788 1,691 560 22 1 0 0 
			 June 1998 7,596 3,999 1,771 576 32 0 0 0 
			 September 1998 7,385 3,547 1,624 470 44 0 0 0 
			 December 1998 7,606 3,677 1,705 574 114 1 0 0 
			 March 1999 7,440 3,679 1,759 536 137 16 0 0 
			 June 1999 7,451 3,910 1,859 707 137 13 0 0 
			 September 1999 7,630 4,049 1,933 704 180 13 0 0 
			 December 1999 7,690 4,077 2,007 753 211 61 0 0 
			 March 2000 7,027 3,794 1,793 803 271 37 0 0 
			 June 2000 6,920 3,662 1,677 792 297 58 0 0 
			 September 2000 6,753 3,144 1,430 619 197 39 0 0 
			 December 2000 7,094 3,539 1,459 654 203 40 0 0 
			 March 2001 6,838 3,438 1,399 432 28 5 0 0 
		
	
	Note
	Data not available prior to June 1991.
	Source:
	KH07 quarterly return
	
		Outpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1995 to March 2001
		
			   Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following general practitioner referral) at quarter end who have waited:  
			 Quarter Over 13 weeks (three months) Over 26 weeks (six months) 
		
		
			 June 1995 941 277 
			 September 1995 980 228 
			 December 1995 1,000 189 
			 March 1996 930 194 
			 June 1996 325 20 
			 September 1996 423 30 
			 December 1996 451 60 
			 March 1997 559 87 
			 June 1997 657 146 
			 September 1997 869 142 
			 December 1997 988 225 
			 March 1998 843 237 
			 June 1998 863 210 
			 September 1998 925 200 
			 December 1998 1,047 196 
			 March 1999 896 247 
			 June 1999 1,180 258 
			 September 1999 1,132 294 
			 December 1999 1,043 306 
			 March 2000 1,020 257 
			 June 2000 1,266 295 
			 September 2000 769 202 
			 December 2000 633 126 
			 March 2001 466 97 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.
	2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.
	3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.
	Source:
	QM08 quarterly return
	
		Outpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1995 to March 2001
		
			   Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following GP referral) at quarter end who have waited:  
			 Quarter Over 13 weeks (three months) Over 26 weeks (six months) 
		
		
			 June 1995 948 205 
			 September 1995 1,204 271 
			 December 1995 1,138 172 
			 March 1996 929 191 
			 June 1996 1,153 143 
			 September 1996 1,482 142 
			 December 1996 1,471 194 
			 March 1997 1,268 210 
			 June 1997 1,105 173 
			 September 1997 1,628 155 
			 December 1997 1,599 219 
			 March 1998 1,216 199 
			 June 1998 1,536 199 
			 September 1998 2,012 363 
			 December 1998 2,125 527 
			 March 1999 1,978 478 
			 June 1999 2,483 552 
			 September 1999 2,597 577 
			 December 1999 2,561 643 
			 March 2000 2,128 603 
			 June 2000 2,651 483 
			 September 2000 1,543 256 
			 December 2000 1,692 275 
			 March 2001 1,384 225 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.
	2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.
	3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.
	Source:
	QM08 quarterly return

Health Authority Merger

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to merge the Somerset health authority and the Dorset health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in April 2001 that the existing health authorities would be disestablished and replaced by new strategic health authorities. Public consultation on the boundaries of the new strategic health authorities will take place later this year.

DEFENCE

Army Personnel Centre

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Army Personnel Centre for financial year 2001–02.

Adam Ingram: The chief executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following key targets for 2001–02:
	To maintain the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers) at 94 per cent.
	To ensure that the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and service qualifications meet the specifications of the post is at least 94 per cent.
	To ensure that the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least four months' notification is at least 54 per cent.
	Note:
	Short-notice operational requirements and postings following initial training and long courses are excluded.
	To maintain accurate pay and personal records of service by correctly processing all pay, pension and personal occurrences within seven working days from receipt of valid input.
	To enable payment of all terminal benefits within five working days of retirement or receipt of valid documentation (which ever is the later) in no less than 98 per cent of cases.
	To remain within +0 per cent. to -1 per cent. of the annual resource control allocation for operating activities.

Suez (Medals)

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning a general service medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Bennett) on 9 July 2001, Official Report, column 361W.

Stanoc Centre

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the military units, (b) UK police forces, (c) UK authorities, agencies and private organisations and (d) overseas customers who have been advised by the Stanoc Centre over the past year.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Night Observation and Counter-surveillance (STANOC) centre has provided assistance to the following organisations since June 2000:
	Military Units
	A comprehensive list of all military units advised by the STANOC centre is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Assistance has, however, been provided in support of Op AGRICOLA, Op PALATINE and other military training activities.
	UK Civil Police Forces
	Metropolitan police, Greater Manchester police, Dorset police, Sussex police, Hampshire police, National Crime Squad, Police Scientific and Development Branch, Lancashire police, Wiltshire police, Jersey police, National Criminal Intelligence Service, SO19.
	UK Authorities and Agencies
	HM Customs and Excise, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Ministry of Defence Police, Defence Procurement Agency, Cabinet Security Office and other Government agencies.
	UK Industry
	Arkonia, Ascent Group, Swarowski, THALES, Marconi, Wylam Defence Systems, Avimo, BAE Systems, Barracuda (UK), Accuracy International, GKN, Raytheon, Bridport Aviation, Colebrand, Roctec, Abley Shelters, MFC, Gore UK, Karrimor, CDSS, ATSI, LEICA, Croma Optics and Resurgem.
	Overseas Armed Forces
	Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Dutch Army, Belgian Army, Norwegian Army, German Army, Omani Army, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, US Army, NZ Army, Philippine Armed Forces, Malaysian Armed Forces, Albanian Army, Macedonian Army and NATO.
	Overseas Industry
	Barracuda, Litton.

NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative since the Washington Summit in 1999.

Geoff Hoon: NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative (DCI) aims to give the Alliance the capabilities it needs to be fully effective across the range of its missions. The initiative comprises some 59 Decisions. Of these, 21 are well on track. The UK is pressing for an intensified programme of work on the DCI over the coming months. The UK's own DCI performance has been strong, with some 60 per cent. of DCI-related Force Goals being fully implemented and a further 30 per cent. being partially implemented. This reflects capability enhancements such as the introduction of the C17 strategic transport aircraft, the acquisition of a greater sealift capability and development and procurement of new precision guided munitions.

Japanese Internees (Compensation)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation payments to internees in Japanese wartime prison camps have yet to be paid; how many have been paid; how many are being investigated; and how many of these are on grounds of the need to prove nationality.

Lewis Moonie: As at 6 July a total of 21,552 ex-gratia payments had been made to former internees and surviving spouses. A further 186 payments had been authorised but not yet paid. 3,364 applications are being investigated to confirm eligibility, of which 411 are on the grounds of proving nationality.

Japanese Internees (Compensation)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been to the definition of "British" when applied to civilians eligible for Her Majesty's Government's ex-gratia payments to former prisoners of war and internees of the Japanese from 1941 to 1945 since 7 November 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The ex-gratia payment announced on 7 November 2000 is being made to the various British groups who had been held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. The eligibility criterion for civilian claimants has recently been clarified, but there has been no change in the intended scope of the scheme. British subjects whom the Japanese interned and who were born in the United Kingdom, or had a parent or grandparent born here, are eligible for the payment.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent disturbance in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus. [R]

Adam Ingram: The Government deplore absolutely the violence and vandalism that took place in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus on Tuesday evening. We have made, and will continue to make, every effort to demonstrate to the Government of Cyprus and the villagers of Akrotiri that the current and proposed antennae on the Salt Lake pose no threat to health and have a minimal impact on the environment.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the status of the border between the Republic of Cyprus and sovereign base areas after Cyprus's accession to the EU. [R]

Adam Ingram: The Government are considering carefully all the implications for the sovereign base areas of the accession by Cyprus to the EU. Our consideration of these matters has not yet reached its conclusion.

Macedonia

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) equipment and (b) personnel his Department has provided to the Government of Macedonia since 1 January.

Geoff Hoon: We have given the Macedonian Government 500 pieces of body armour, 15 mine detectors and 100 handheld Global Positioning Systems. In addition, we will be providing one remote control bomb disposal vehicle and 1,000 parachute flares.
	In March this year at the start of the crisis we sent out a small team of eight military officers for five days to assess how we might assist the Macedonian Government. Two of these officers remained for a limited period to provide support to the UK Defence Adviser to the Macedonian Government (Brigadier James Short); their role was to provide assistance with planning. At present, a military officer is working alongside Brigadier Short providing operational advice.

Pensions (Politically Sensitive Cases)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 132W, on pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the wording of the guidance both before and after the amendment was made.

Lewis Moonie: It is not current practice to place individual items from the guidance manuals in the Library. However, arrangements are being made to place a copy of the current War Pensions Medical Advisers Instructions and Procedures Guide in the Library, together with a copy of the amendment.

Junior Officers

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the into productive service requirement is for junior officers this year; and if the requirement will be achieved.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The into productive service target for junior officer multi-engined pilots in the RAF for the financial year 2001–02 is 55. Unfortunately, problems with the Tucano training fleet at the end of last year meant that the number of fast jet students restreamed to multi-engined aircraft training was fewer than expected and this is the main contributing factor to the target not being met. The current forecast is for 44 multi-engined aircraft pilots to join front line squadrons from Operational Conversion Units in 2001–02. The position is expected to recover in subsequent years.

Nancekuke

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials were deposited in the sea off the North Cornish coast when CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned.

Lewis Moonie: There is no comprehensive record of materials which were deposited into the sea off the north Cornish coast when Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE) Nancekuke was decommissioned.
	All plant used in toxic or hazardous operations at Nancekuke was thoroughly decontaminated. All decontaminant was neutralised, diluted and tested on representative local marine species, namely prawns and gobies, before disposal into the sea.
	Chemical warfare agents and their precursors were generally destroyed by incineration or transferred to CDE Porton Down. Some precursors and other materials were however treated and disposed of as above. These included approximately 1 tonne of pralidoxime mesylate (treated with sodium hypochlorite before disposal), arsenic chloride (31 litres were hydrolysed then oxidised with sodium hypochlorite before disposal) and 7 kg of a mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride (hydrolysed and neutralised before disposal).

Nancekuke

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the environmental assessment being undertaken at RAF Portreath.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 522W. Work on the further land quality assessment has been completed. The expert consultant's report has been received and my officials are considering its recommendations and options for remediation work. The next stage will entail discussions on the way ahead with the Environment Agency and Kerrier district council.

Nancekuke

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea monitoring has been undertaken since CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned.

Lewis Moonie: Sea monitoring is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, and its forerunner the National Rivers Authority. No monitoring other than the routine monitoring of South West Water's sewage outfall pipes has been undertaken.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, announced on 1 May, will gather evidence and recollections from staff who organised the experiments.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 May 2001, Official Report, columns 415–16W.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, what plans he has to assign more officials to carry out the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme.

Lewis Moonie: We plan to take on a further member of staff, probably a higher executive officer (Grade C2).

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, if he will arrange for service volunteers to give their recollections of the Porton Down volunteer programme in a public forum.

Lewis Moonie: No. Service volunteers are free to give us their recollections in any way they wish.

War in Space

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the threat of war in space.

Geoff Hoon: The UK and its assets are not considered to be under threat from war in space. The UK was a Depository State of the Outer Space Treaty, which places important limitations on the military use of space, and the UK supports further consideration of issues relating to the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Army Absentees

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the British Army use (a) the legbrace and (b) orange shirts printed "Prisoner" in respect of absentees.

Adam Ingram: None.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Bermuda Regiment is part of the British Army.

Adam Ingram: No. The Bermuda Regiment is an internal security force whose role is to help the Bermuda Police Service maintain law and order. Although there are strong links between the Regiment and the British Army, it is not part of it.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has to consult Parliament about proposed amendments to the Bermuda constitution; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that no Order in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution is enacted without hon. Members being given a reasonable period of time to consider the proposed amendments; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Orders in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution are made under Section 1 of the Bermuda Constitution Act 1967, which provides that any such Order shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it a requirement that there is general agreement by all relevant parties in Bermuda about the membership and terms of reference and functions of the proposed boundary commission to be set up consequent on amendments sought to the Bermuda constitution by the Bermuda Government.

Ben Bradshaw: The composition and terms of reference of the Bermuda Constituency Boundaries Commission are laid down in the Bermuda constitution. There is no intention to change the composition of the commission. Consultations have been undertaken with the political parties in Bermuda about the terms of reference and functions of the commission, with a view to that body making recommendations regarding possible single- member constituencies.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the (a) Governor and (b) Deputy Governor of Bermuda is paid; by whom; and what other allowances and emoluments accrue to each office.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government of Bermuda make provision in their budget for salary and other allowances of the Governor, and for the Governor's office. The Governor is paid in accordance with Bermuda civil service pay scales; the Deputy Governor, who is a member of HM diplomatic service, is paid in accordance with FCO pay scales.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the use of conscription in Bermuda; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Conscription is regulated by the Bermuda Defence Act 1965. Amendment to this Act requires legislation in the House of Assembly in Bermuda.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new Governor of Bermuda will be appointed.

Ben Bradshaw: An announcement will be made in the usual way at the appropriate time.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the process of consultation followed by his Department in respect of the appointment of the Governor of Bermuda.

Ben Bradshaw: The Governor of Bermuda is appointed following consultation with the Premier of Bermuda.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a constitutional conference prior to amending the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no requirement to call a constitutional conference before amendment of the Bermuda constitution. But consideration of the most appropriate way forward is given on a case-by-case basis.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates (a) the Governor and (b) Foreign Office Ministers met (i) Bermuda Government Ministers and (ii) members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Governor frequently meets Government of Bermuda Ministers and Opposition members. Meetings specifically to discuss proposals to amend Bermuda's constitution were hosted by the Governor at Government House in April 2001. Several Government Ministers and members of the opposition attended these talks.
	(b) FCO Ministers met Government of Bermuda Ministers to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution in October 2000 and December 2000. They met members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition in December 2000 and January 2001.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a constitutional conference has been held prior to amendments being approved by Order in Council to the Bermuda constitution since 1971.

Ben Bradshaw: Once, in 1979.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women serve in the Bermuda Regiment; and how many were conscripted.

Ben Bradshaw: Eighteen women are currently serving in the Bermuda Regiment. There is no conscription for women in Bermuda.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of conscripts to the Bermuda Regiment have not responded to their conscription call-up for each of the past five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The proportions for the years in question are as follows:
	1996—27 per cent.
	1997—29 per cent.
	1998—38 per cent.
	1999—24 per cent.
	2000—16 per cent.
	The percentage represents the proportion who are unaccounted for and for whom no reasonable excuse has been offered.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Governor Masefield's role is in respect of discipline and appeals in the Bermuda Regiment; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Bermuda Defence Act 1965 established the policy and procedure to be observed in the command and administration of the Bermuda Regiment including military offences and the respective powers of the commander.
	Appeals are heard by the Defence Board, which forwards its recommendations to the Governor, who then acts at his discretion.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many conscripts from the Bermuda Regiment have served outside Bermuda in the past two years.

Ben Bradshaw: No conscripts have been deployed on operations outside Bermuda in the past two years.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what punishments have been made in respect of each conscript to the Bermuda Regiment who has failed to respond to his call-up in each of the past two years.

Ben Bradshaw: Failure to respond to call-up is dealt with in civil court. There were no prosecutions in 1999. In 2000 nine men were prosecuted and were bound over for one year by the magistrate. Of the nine, six have now commenced military service, one was found unfit, one qualified for deferment and one will commence service in January 2002.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have served custodial sentences in the past two years consequent on their failure to accept conscription in the Bermuda Regiment.

Ben Bradshaw: None.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the establishment strength of the Bermuda Regiment is, broken down by (a) full-time officers and soldiers, indicating those seconded from other regiments and units, (b) part-time officers and soldiers and (c) conscripts.

Ben Bradshaw: The establishment strength of the Bermuda Regiment is:
	(a) Full-time officers six, other ranks 22. Two are on secondment from the Royal Anglian Regiment.
	(b) Part-time officers 24, other ranks 514.
	(c) There is no breakdown available for conscripts. They are included in the part-time numbers.

Bermuda Regiment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past year a leg brace has been used in respect of a Bermuda Regiment conscript; and for what purpose.

Ben Bradshaw: In the past year a leg brace has been used three times as a restraint.

Bermuda Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Governor's responsibility for the command and control of the Bermuda Police.

Ben Bradshaw: In 1977 the Governor's responsibility for the Police Service for matters relating to recruitment, training, equipment, general organisation, finance and community relations was delegated to the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.

Bermuda Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions and in what circumstances the leg-brace is used by Bermuda Police.

Ben Bradshaw: Leg braces are not used by the Bermuda Police Force.

Falkland Islands

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the constitution of the Falkland Islands.

Denis MacShane: We have invited all the Overseas Territories to review their constitutions and to submit their proposals for modernisation. HMG will consider carefully any suggestions for which there is evidence of extensive local consultation and support. A Select Committee has been appointed in the Falkland Islands to review the constitution and it is currently undertaking wide public consultation. The Select Committee has yet to submit its proposals formally to HMG.

Overseas Territories

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to bring forward legislation relating to overseas territories.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Overseas Territories Bill, which will grant British citizenship to all British Dependent Territories Citizens in qualifying territories, was given a first reading in the House of Lords on 21 June and published on 22 June. A second reading was given on 10 July and the committee stage is scheduled for 24 July. Copies of the Bill, with explanatory notes, are available from the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.

Overseas Territories

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Orders in Council relating to the law of overseas territories he plans to bring forward during 2001; and if he will specify the purpose and overseas territory concerned in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: Orders in Council are used to give effect to various treaties, convention, UN sanctions and other similar matters where the capacity to pass local legislation is inadequate. A list of anticipated Orders in Council relating to the laws of the Overseas Territories is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Other Orders in Council may arise during the course of the year.

Overseas Territories

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if all overseas territories are compliant with (a) the European Convention on Human Rights and (b) other human rights standards to which the United Kingdom is committed to by (i) treaty or convention and (ii) policy.

Ben Bradshaw: HMG's policy is that those territories which choose to remain British should abide by the same standards of human rights that British people expect of their own Government. These are enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the six core UN human rights instruments. The ECHR and most of the UN Conventions have been extended to all the territories. We are working with the territories to complete the process of extending the outstanding UN Conventions. The territories to which these conventions have already been extended are in large measure compliant.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Cycle-tracks

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase the mileage of dedicated cycle-tracks by 2005.

John Spellar: The Government have encouraged local traffic authorities in England to include plans for increasing cycling in their local transport plans and all have done so. As a result we expect up to 4,300 km of new cycle routes in England by 2005, as well as a range of facilities for cyclists such as advanced stop lines, toucan crossings and junction treatments. Each authority must decide what mix of additional facilities is needed to reach its local cycling targets.
	We will also be continuing to help Sustrans in the development of the National Cycle Network, which it is hoped will be 10,000 miles long by 2005.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the proposed stakeholders meeting of London Underground and the Health and Safety Executive's review of the Public Private Partnership will take place, and in which location.

David Jamieson: London Underground informs me that its stakeholders' safety meeting, originally scheduled for 26 June, was postponed at the request of Mr. Robert Kiley, while he conducted negotiations with the bidders for the PPP contracts. Mr. Kiley has now reported that he has been unable to reach agreement with the bidders which meets his objectives, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked London Underground to proceed with plans for the modernisation of the Tube. A rescheduled stakeholders' meeting can be expected later in the summer as part of the renewed drive to provide the investment and renewal programme needed to create a 21st century Tube.
	Safety will continue to be the first priority of London Underground. The Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a review of London Underground's safety arrangements as part of the rigorous acceptance process for revisions to London Underground's safety case.

London Underground

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how many people used the London Underground in each of the years 1971 to 2000;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who will use the London Underground in the next 10 years.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground which has provided me with the figures in the tables, which represent the total number of fare-paying passengers who use the Underground network each year.
	
		million 
		
			  Passenger journeys 
		
		
			 1971 654 
			 1972 655 
			 1973 644 
			 1974 636 
			 1975 601 
			 1976 546 
			 1977 546 
			 1978 569 
			 1979 594 
			 1980 559 
			 1981 541 
			 1982 498 
			 1983 563 
			 1984–85 672 
			 1985–86 732 
			 1986–87 769 
			 1987–88 798 
			 1988–89 815 
			 1989–90 765 
			 1990–91 775 
			 1991–92 751 
			 1992–93 728 
			 1993–94 735 
			 1994–95 764 
			 1995–96 784 
			 1996–97 772 
			 1997–98 832 
			 1998–99 866 
			 1999–2000 927 
			 2000–01 970 
		
	
	
		London Underground future projections over the next 10 years
		
			  million  
			  Passenger journeys 
		
		
			 2001–02 977 
			 2002–03 993 
			 2003–04 1,012 
			 2004–05 1,025 
			 2005–06 1,039 
			 2006–07 1,050 
			 2007–08 1,060 
			 2008–09 1,079 
			 2009–10 1,098 
			 2010–11 1,117

Uninsured Vehicles

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the number of vehicles on British roads (a) without insurance and (b) which have not passed their MOT; how many vehicles without insurance were involved in accidents in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number of vehicles without insurance on UK roads over the next five years.

David Jamieson: It is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 300,140 people were convicted during 1999. Estimates of MOT evasion are similar. The Motor Insurance Database will go live later this month and while it is too early to make exact estimates, we expect a considerable reduction in insurance evasion as offenders realise that the chances of being caught will be much higher.
	Figures for 2000 show that over 35,000 claims in respect of accidents involving uninsured drivers were made to the Motor Insurers Bureau.

Concessionary Travel

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost of reimbursing local authorities for their concessionary travel schemes in (a) London, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales if the age requirement for men and women is equalised at 60.

Stephen Byers: In Scotland and Wales concessionary travel is devolved, as are the resources to cover for the additional costs. In England it is estimated that equalising entitlement to concessionary travel at age 60 for men and women will cost up to £50 million per year. That figure is broken down as follows:
	(a) London—£15 million,
	(b) rest of England—£35 million.

Voter Turnout

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to initiate research into voter turnout at the 2001 general election; and if he will make a statement on the efforts to improve voter turnout in local, general and European elections.

Alan Whitehead: The Electoral Commission's report on the general election, to be published at the end of July, is expected to include consideration of the reasons for reduced turnout. The Commission also has a duty to educate and inform the public about the electoral process and the importance of participating in it. We will shortly be inviting local authorities to submit pilot schemes to encourage turnout for next year's local elections.

Millennium Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the eventual sale proceeds of the Dome site will be attributable to Lattice Properties plc.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 9 July 2001
	When English Partnerships acquired land on the Greenwich Peninsula from British Gas in 1997, the sale and purchase agreement provided for British Gas (Lattice Properties plc) to receive a proportion of any onward sale proceeds. This is set at 7.5 per cent. of sale proceeds or open market value.

SPADs

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signals were passed at danger on railways in the last three years and for this year; what the figures were for Connex South Eastern; and if he will make a statement on the SPAD on Connex Services north of St. Mary Cray on 26 June.

David Jamieson: The following information on signals passed at danger (SPADs) has been provided by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate:
	(a) There were a total of 1,741 SPADs over the last three financial years: 662 in 1998–1999, 594 in 1999–2000 and 475 in 2000–2001.
	(b) There have been 92 SPADs so far this year, April to May 2001
	(c) There were 66 SPADs in the same period last year, April to May 2000.
	(d) There were a total of 104 SPADs by Connex South Eastern trains over the last three financial years: 41 in 1998–1999, 35 in 1999–2000, and 28 in 2000–2001. So far this year, April to May 2001, Connex South Eastern have had 3 SPADs.
	(e) The Connex South Eastern SPAD incident on 26 June at Bickley Junction near St. Mary Cray, is currently under investigation by the HSE's Railway Inspectorate. The results of this investigation will be published in HSE's June monthly SPAD report, which will be placed in the House Library at the end of this month.

Waterloo-Exeter Main Line

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the accident on 2 July on the Waterloo to Exeter main line west of Tisbury involving a passenger train and a heavy goods vehicle on an unmanned level crossing; and what steps he is taking to improve safety on such crossings.

David Jamieson: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The incident is under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate with the assistance of the Health and Safety Laboratories. A meeting will take place on the 20 August between HM Railway Inspectorate and Railtrack's Southern Zone Level Crossings Manager to assess the incident and any further actions that are necessary. HM Railway Inspectorate will shortly be asking Railtrack to include this type of level crossing in their system wide review of level crossings
	After the road accident that caused a rail collision at Great Heck, Selby, the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Health and Safety Commission to convene and lead a working group that will look at the circumstances of incidents where vehicles have blocked rail lines and whether there are features in common that might have been preventable. Its report will be published in the autumn.

M6

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 117W, on the M6 motorway, if he will convene an early meeting of right hon. and hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by the MIDMAN study to discuss the recommendations that he receives.

David Jamieson: The early outcomes of the MIDMAN study will be available by the end of August and a further joint presentation to the MPs affected by the outcomes of both studies will therefore be arranged for early autumn. The Government Office for the West Midlands invited Members to a presentation of this study and the West Midlands Area Study on 18 April 2000 and I have asked them to make the necessary arrangements again.

Cullen Report

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the second Cullen report to be published.

David Jamieson: The report of Part 2 of Lord Cullen's Inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove train crash, which is looking into the culture, management and regulation of safety on the railways, is expected to be published by the Health and Safety Commission later this year.

Small Business Rate Relief

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the number of businesses in England and Wales that would benefit from the proposed rate relief for small businesses with a rateable value of less than £8,000 as outlined in the Green Paper, 'Modernising Local Government Finance'.

Alan Whitehead: The Green Paper 'Modernising Local Government Finance' (September 2000) applied to England only. The National Assembly for Wales set out its proposals in 'Simplifying the System: Local Government Finance in Wales' (September 2000).
	The Green Paper proposal was that in England there should be relief of 50 per cent. for properties with rateable values up to £3,000, with the relief then tapering off, so that properties with rateable values of £6,000 would get 20 per cent. relief, and those with rateable values above £8,000 would get no relief.
	There are 977,000 properties in England with rateable values of £8,000 and less. Of these 474,000 have rateable values of £3,000 or less. However the Green Paper also suggested that small properties owned by large businesses might be excluded from the relief scheme, if this could be done without excessive administrative complexity.
	In the light of the responses to the Green Paper, and further discussions we have been holding with business organisations, we will be setting out our decisions on the relief scheme in a White Paper later this year.

Private Hire Vehicles

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the consultation paper on private hire vehicle drivers was issued; and by what date responses are required.

David Jamieson: Responsibility for the regulation of private hire vehicles in London has been passed to the Mayor. Transport for London issued a consultation paper on proposals for the regulation of private hire vehicle drivers on 13 June, with a closing date for responses of 8 August.

Private Hire Vehicles

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how many private hire vehicle operators in London had registered for licensing on 1 July with the Public Carriage Office;
	(2)  how many private hire operators were licensed under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 on 1 July.

David Jamieson: Responsibility for the regulation of private hire vehicles in London has been passed to the Mayor. The Public Carriage Office undertakes the licensing function as part of Transport for London.

Private Hire Vehicles

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish the consultation paper on private hire vehicles under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998.

David Jamieson: It will be for Transport for London to publish a consultation paper on proposals for licensing private hire vehicles in London.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mine Clearance

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by the UK Government on (a) humanitarian mine clearance, (b) commercial mine clearance, (c) military initiative mine clearance, (d) mine awareness, (e) victim assistance and (f) research and development for mine clearance in 2000–01.

Clare Short: Disbursements are as follows:
	
		2000–01
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) Humanitarian Mine Clearance (2)14,500,000 
			 (c) Mine Awareness 500,000 
			 (d) Research and Development 1,000,000 
		
	
	(2) Includes integrated mine awareness activities. As programmes are often integrated separate costs of awareness are not available.
	Notes:
	1. All expenditure by Department of International Development (DFID)
	2. Military mine clearance has taken place in the Balkans since 1992. Military advisers have been attached to UN Mine Action Centres assisting in the development of mine action programmes. They have also supervised the mine clearance carried out by the Entity Armed Forces and provided mine awareness to local populations. The Mine Information Training Centre (MITC) at Minley has provided mine awareness training to over 30,000 people. The MOD has also continued to monitor minefields in the Falkland Islands. This work is part of the wider responsibilities of those involved and is impossible to cost accurately.
	3. DFID has not funded commercial mine clearance. There are no records of UK commercial demining activities currently available in Department of Trade and Industry.
	4. Assistance to land mine victims is additional to our mine action programme. Mine victims benefit from our mainstream health and population and social development programmes, as well as specific programmes assisting the disabled. It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure figures for land mine victims.

Mine Clearance

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list Government expenditure on humanitarian mine clearance in 2000–01, broken down by country.

Clare Short: Government expenditure on mine action programmes is indicated in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Albania 369,648 
			 Cambodia 1,430,571 
			 Chad 270,000 
			 Croatia 150,000 
			 Eritrea/Ethiopia 544,151 
			 Georgia 456,259 
			 Guinea Bissau 120,000 
			 Iraq 616,100 
			 Jordan 270,000 
			 Laos 616,889 
			 Lebanon 387,297 
			 Nicaragua 283,000 
			 Thailand 300,000 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo) 7,899,020 
			 Global/Regional 4,000,000

Mine Clearance

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the organisations to which the Government have given money for the purpose of mine clearance in 2000–01 specifying the amount given in each case.

Clare Short: The table gives the figures requested.
	
		2000–01
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 The HALO Trust 1,863,304 
			 Mines Advisory Group (MAG) 1,164,015 
			 Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) (via UNDPP 214,285 
			 Croatian Mine Advisory Centre 150,000 
			 Government of Jordan 270,000 
			 Organisation of American States—Nicaragua demining 283,000 
			 United Nations Mine Action Service—Kosovo 390,364 
			 Battle Area Clearance Training Equipment Consultants (BACTEC)—Kosovo 1,100,616  
			 Defence Systems Ltd. (DSL)—Kosovo 3,118,404 
			 European Landmine Solutions ELS—Kosovo 2,550,632 
			 United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)—Global 600,000 
			 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 500,000 
			 Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) 790,000  
			 Cranfield Mine Action 162,182 
			 Landmine Monitor 157,000 
			 Defence Evaluation and Research Establishment (DERA) 306,060 
			 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) 23,105 
			 Aardvark 52,613 
			 MineLifta 45,952 
			 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 600,000

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 41W, concerning the KPMG report on Belize, for what reason the report will not be placed in the public domain.

Clare Short: The Government of Belize requested at the outset that the information contained in the consultants' report should be regarded as confidential between our two Governments.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 41W, concerning the KPMG report on Belize, when the report was submitted; for what reasons it failed to fulfil the terms of reference; and if she will place in the Library the original terms of reference.

Clare Short: A draft report was submitted by KPMG on 18 September 2000 which did not incorporate an assessment of the benefits and costs of public investment companies in Belize. A copy of the terms of reference will be placed in the Library.

Chechnya

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on Russia's response to the World Bank's request for information about the budgetary impact upon it of the Chechnya war; and if she will make it her policy to use the World Bank to encourage that country to apply for redevelopment support for the Chechnya area;
	(2)  what representations she has made to Russia to seek funding from the World Bank for redevelopment in Chechnya; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Responsibility for the redevelopment of Chechnya lies with the Russian Government, and it will be for Russia to decide whether to seek assistance from the international community. However, while fighting continues and the security situation remains poor, the redevelopment of Chechnya on any significant scale is unlikely to be possible.
	Britain is contributing to international appeals to provide help for those displaced by the conflict. So far this year we have directly contributed £1.75 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and £1.6 million to the United Nations Interagency Appeal. We also contribute through the European Commission Humanitarian Office.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Firearms (Police)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police operations there were per police force in which firearms were issued; how many authorised firearms officers were involved; how many operations involved armed response vehicles between (a) April 1999 to March 2000 and (b) April 2000 to March 2001; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The latest available statistics for the police use of firearms in England and Wales were published on 12 April 2000, Official Report, column 223W, in an answer from the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope), and covered the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999. The statistics for April 1999 to March 2000 will be announced shortly.

Prisoners (Conditions)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were spent on purposeful activity in (a) male local prisons, (b) male open prisons, (c) male closed training prisons, (d) male young offender institutions, (e) female prisons and (f) female young offender institutions in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The average hours per week spent in purposeful activity in 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2000–01, by establishment function, are given in the table.
	
		
			 Function name 1996–97 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Category B 21.6 23.4 24.5 
			 Category C 27.4 26.8 26.6 
			 Dispersal 19.4 19.2 19.4 
			 Female closed 28.6 23.8 25.4 
			 Female local 22.2 19.8 23.0 
			 Female open 37.9 39.3 39.3 
			 Male closed YOI 22.2 20.8 22.3 
			 Male juvenile 38.7 37.9 37.0 
			 Male local 19.2 19.5 20.2 
			 Male open 42.4 42.7 42.3 
			 Male open YOI 46.0 43.7 40.4 
			 Male remand centre 16.3 17.6 18.8

Prison Service (Assaults)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on (a) prisoners, (b) prison staff and (c) other people in Prison Service establishments there were in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The number of proven adjudications for assaults on prisoners, staff and others for the years 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are listed in the table. The Prison Service does not record data on assaults on staff and others separately. Data on assaults and all Prison Service key performance indicators are published annually in Her Majesty's Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts and Her Majesty's Prison Service Corporate and Business Plan.
	The number of proven adjudications for assault at any time will in part reflect the total number or prisoners and the extent to which victims are enabled to come forward with complaints.
	
		
			  Assaults on prisoners Assaults on staff/others Total assaults 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,747 2,531 5,278 
			 1999–2000 3,457 3,010 6,467 
			 2000–01 3,282 3,107 6,389

Drugs Misuse (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to initiate policies to combat drugs misuse in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has an overarching role in monitoring progress against the United Kingdom drugs strategy, taking account of the distinctive substance misuse strategies in the other countries of the United Kingdom. However, it is the National Assembly for Wales which is responsible for setting and the strategic direction of the strategy in Wales and monitoring its progress.
	The Assembly's Community Regeneration and Social Inclusion Unit maintains regular contact with officials of the United Kingdom Anti Drugs Co-ordination Unit and relevant Whitehall officials in other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Shiblu Rahman

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police's role was in the provision of emergency treatment for Mr. Shiblu Rahman on 1 April in Bow; if his murder is being regarded as a racial incident; what representations his family have made to the Metropolitan police and how they have responded; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the police's role in providing emergency treatment to Mr. Shiblu Rahman on 1 April in Bow was immediately to administer first aid on arrival at the scene, until a paramedic arrived.
	The murder of Mr. Rahman has always been treated as a racist incident. Mr. Rahman's family have made representations to senior officers from Tower Hamlets borough, to the Serious Crime Group and to Commander Smith who is the Association of Chief Police Officers officer with geographical responsibility for East London. The family have expressed concerns as to the initial actions taken by the emergency services and these are being considered by senior officers within the Metropolitan police service.
	Four people have been arrested and charged with the murder of Mr. Rahman, while a fifth person has been charged with aiding the principals.

Wandsworth Prison

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide extra financial resources for HMP Wandsworth for improvements.

Beverley Hughes: In the current financial year, Wandsworth has received an additional £511,565 from the Spending Review 2000 (SR 2000) settlement for a range of measures against drugs, and other additional budget allocations for specific purposes. However, as part of the SR2000 settlement, the Prison Service has to make cashable efficiency savings of 1 per cent per year in its baselines, and Wandsworth's baseline has been reduced to contribute to this. The net effect of these changes is to increase Wandsworth's funding by £362,538 in 2001–02 compared to 2000–01. In addition, the establishment has been selected as a pilot site for national health service-funded mental health in-reach work to an estimated value of £252,000.
	In the light of these changes Wandsworth is expected to contribute to efficiency savings while at the same time using the additional resources allocated to deliver more effective and targeted services. There is no prospect of further changes in Wandsworths' financial allocation in this financial year.

Electronic Tagging

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been electronically tagged in England and Wales.

Beverley Hughes: 47,462 people were electronically tagged in England and Wales between the start of the current electronic monitoring contracts on 28 January 1999 and 30 June 2001. At midnight on 30 June 2001, a total of 3,162 people were still being monitored.

Mentally Ill Prisoners

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will divert resources from the provision of further prison establishments towards the care of mentally ill prisoners in secure specialist premises outside normal prisons.

Beverley Hughes: In England, the provision of secure, specialist premises outside prisons for the treatment of mental illness is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The National Health Service (NHS) plan, which he published in July 2000, contains a commitment to develop new NHS in-reach services for prisoners with serious mental illnesses. These services are being piloted in 12 sites in England, including Wandsworth prison, during 2000–01 before being implemented more widely. Alongside this development, the National Assembly for Wales is funding similar in-reach services in the four Prison Service establishments in Wales.

Commonwealth Visitors

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (c) Guyanese, (d) Canadian and (e) Australian nationals were admitted as visitors during each month in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 to the latest available date; and how many of these, from each country, were admitted with leave for less than six months.

Angela Eagle: The available information is given in the table.
	Visitors are only admitted to the United Kingdom for a maximum period of six months. The table shows visitors and business visitors for the requested nationalities up to April 2001, the latest available month.
	
		Passengers admitted to the United Kingdom, by selected nationality and category, January 2000 to April 2001(3) -- Number of journeys(4)
		
			  Jamaica Barbados Guyana Canada Australia 
		
		
			 Visitors  
			 2000  
			 January 1,340 140 60 15,100 22,900 
			 February 1,630 210 50 19,000 14,500 
			 March 1,930 350 120 32,600 20,200 
			 April 1,870 460 160 42,800 35,800 
			 May 2,500 430 160 60,500 48,700 
			 June 2,990 890 180 60,000 48,600 
			 July 5,160 1,420 610 69,400 58,100 
			 August 3,440 1,050 430 71,600 51,100 
			 September 2,380 740 200 52,500 57,600 
			 October 1,880 440 150 40,700 41,000 
			 November 1,990 410 170 25,100 23,300 
			 December 2,980 590 230 25,700 33,600 
			  
			 Total 30,100 7,130 2,530 515,000 455,000 
			   
			 2001(3)  
			 January 1,700 200 80 16,300 23,300 
			 February 1,920 200 100 23,700 13,500 
			 March 2,340 290 240 20,100 19,200 
			 April 2,260 310 250 36,300 32,900 
			   
			  Business visitors
			 2000  
			 January 50 20 10 6,610 3,470 
			 February 90 40 10 6,960 3,990 
			 March 170 70 (5)— 7,210 4,560 
			 April 70 30 20 6,560 4,180 
			 May 100 60 20 7,970 5,660 
			 June 130 80 20 7,550 5,540 
			 July 150 50 70 7,020 4,830 
			 August 100 20 10 4,840 3,640 
			 September 110 80 20 8,070 4,880 
			 October 90 60 30 8,710 5,590 
			 November 120 120 40 8,520 5,040 
			 December 70 10 10 4,340 2,640 
			  
			 Total 1,250 640 280 83,900 54,400 
			   
			 2001(3)  
			 January 100 40 40 6,770 3,950 
			 February 140 60 10 8,080 4,280 
			 March 140 60 30 7,580 5,170 
			 April 100 60 20 7,720 4,610 
			   
			 Total visitors  
			 2000  
			 January 1,390 170 70 21,300 26,400 
			 February 1,720 260 60 25,900 18,500 
			 March 2,100 420 130 39,900 24,800 
			 April 1,940 490 180 49,300 40,000 
			 May 2,600 480 190 68,500 54,400 
			 June 3,120 960 210 67,500 54,100 
			 July 5,320 1,460 680 76,500 62,900 
			 August 3,540 1,070 440 76,400 54,700 
			 September 2,500 810 230 60,600 62,500 
			 October 1,970 500 180 49,400 46,900 
			 November 2,110 530 200 33,600 28,300 
			 December 3,050 610 240 30,100 36,300 
			  
			 Total 31,400 7,770 2,800 599,000 510,000 
			 2001(3)  
			 January 1,800 240 110 23,100 27,200 
			 February 2,060 260 100 31,800 17,800 
			 March 2,480 350 270 37,600 24,300 
			 April 2,360 370 270 44,000 37,500 
		
	
	(3) 2001 data are provisional
	(4) Totals may not sum due to rounding. This is because all calculations are based on unrounded figures to ensure accuracy
	(5) Five or fewer
	Note:
	Data rounded to three significant digits or to the nearest 10 if less than 1,000

Commonwealth Visitors

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for extensions of stay were received in each month in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 to the latest available date by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate from (i) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (iii) Guyanese, (iv) Canadian and (v) Australian nationals admitted for less than six months as visitors; and how many were (A) granted and (B) refused.

Angela Eagle: The available information is given in the table and relates to people who enter the United Kingdom as visitors and subsequently apply for an extension of stay in another category.
	The information relates to decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain. The latest available data are for the period January to September 2000.
	
		Grants and refusals of extensions of leave to remain(6) in the United Kingdom to persons having entered the country as a visitor(7), by selected nationality, January to September 2000(8)
		
			  Number of decisions(9)  
			  Jamaica Barbados Guyana Canada Australia 
		
		
			  Grants of extension 
			 January 560 10 10 20 40 
			 February 480 10 10 30 40 
			 March 580 10 10 30 60 
			 April 380 10 10 20 50 
			 May 470 10 10 20 60 
			 June 630 10 10 40 60 
			 July 500 10 10 30 60 
			 August 460 * * 20 70 
			 September 400 * 10 20 60 
			  
			 Total January–September 4,460 70 70 240 500 
			   
			  Refusals of extension 
			 January 50 * * * * 
			 February 60 — * * 10 
			 March 60 — * 10 * 
			 April 80 — * * 10 
			 May 100 — * 10 10 
			 June 180 * 10 * * 
			 July 230 — * * * 
			 August 160 — * * * 
			 September 130 * * * 10 
			  
			 Total January–September 1,060 * 20 40 50 
			   
			  Total Decisions 
			 January 600 10 10 30 50 
			 February 550 10 10 40 50 
			 March 640 10 10 40 60 
			 April 460 10 10 30 60 
			 May 570 10 10 30 60 
			 June 820 10 10 40 60 
			 July 740 10 10 30 70 
			 August 610 * 10 20 70 
			 September 530 10 10 20 60 
			  
			 Total January–September 5,520 80 90 270 550 
		
	
	(6) Excludes dependants of principal applicants, the outcome of appeals, and withdrawn applications
	(7) Includes students admitted for less than six months
	(8) Provisional
	(9) Totals may not add up due to rounding. This is because all calculations are based on unrounded numbers to ensure accuracy
	Note:
	Data rounded to the nearest 10 with * = 5 or fewer

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) Stoke-on-Trent.

John Denham: The number of antisocial behaviour orders being applied for and issued is collected centrally by magistrates courts committee (MCC) area only. Between April 1999 and March 2001, two antisocial behaviour orders, both of which were granted, were applied for in the Staffordshire MCC.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour orders in the Shrewsbury division of West Mercia Constabulary.

John Denham: Since my predecessor, the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), answered my hon. Friend's earlier question on this subject on 4 April 2001, Official Report, column 214W, the Shrewsbury division of West Mercia constabulary has obtained a further 18 antisocial behaviour orders bringing the total for the division to some 24 orders. These orders have helped to curb intimidatory begging in the town centre and antisocial behaviour by groups of young people in other parts of the division. I applaud the efforts of the local police, and congratulate them on their success.

Charities (Audit)

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what he calculates to be the threshold level of turnover of charities needed to trigger full annual audits if the current provision had been indexed in line with that applied to company audits since its introduction;
	(2)  what plans he has to uprate the threshold level of annual turnover for charities triggering full annual audits.

Angela Eagle: There are no plans at present to uprate the threshold level triggering full annual audits for charity accounts although the matter is kept under review.
	Part VI of the Charities Act 1993 and the associated Regulations and Statements of Recommended Practice provide the accounting framework for charities. The accounting requirements are graduated and vary with the size of the charity. Charities with gross income or total expenditure of over £250,000 (in the current or two previous financial years) are required to produce audited accounts.
	Charities that are registered as companies are subject to the Companies Acts and must file their accounts with Companies House. They are also subject to charity law. The audit threshold for a charitable company is £250,000 gross income, as provided for in the Companies Act 1985 (Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 1997.
	The auditing threshold for non-charitable companies was raised last year from £350,000 to £1 million, an increase of approximately 280 per cent., but the decision was taken at that time to retain the existing threshold for charitable companies. A similar increase for charities would raise the threshold to the order of £700,000.
	Good charity accounts which show how the charity is using its resources and which are reliable, consistent and available to the public are important in demonstrating openness and public accountability. The particular public interest in charities and charitable companies calls for an accounting system for them which is different from that which is appropriate for non-charitable organisations.

Prison Staff (Salaries)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the salaries of prison staff in discipline and administration grades.

Beverley Hughes: Prison officers and related support grades received a two per cent. increase in pay from 1 January 2001. Also, locality payments for those working in and around London were increased by between £517 and £873 a year. This year's pay changes for administrative grades are still subject to the outcome of negotiations. The pay of most of these Prison Service staff will be handled differently from next year.
	On 9 February 2001, Official Report, column 747W, my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Home Office announced plans to set up a Prison Service Pay Review Body to make independent recommendations to the Government on the pay of prison officers and related support grades employed in public sector prisons in England and Wales, and the Northern Ireland Prison Service. This came into effect on 17 April 2001. It is due to make its first recommendations with effect from 1 January 2002. The pay of prison administrative staff, who are outside the Review Body remit, will remain subject to direct annual negotiation between the Prison Service and the Prison Service Trade Union Side.

Mental Health Care

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement (a) Part I and (b) Part II of the White Paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act".

Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce the legislation needed to give effect to both parts of the White Paper as soon as parliamentary time allows. This will include proposals—set out in Part 2—to deal with the small minority of those mentally disordered people who present a high risk to others, including those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered.
	Good progress is being made on all aspects of the service development required for the creation of new services for those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered and for the modernisation of mental health services generally.

Feltham Young Offenders Prison

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates there were at Feltham Young Offenders Prison in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The average population at Feltham Young Offenders Institution in each of the last five years is given in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year Average population HMYOI Feltham 
		
		
			 2000–01 698 
			 1999–2000 798 
			 1998–99 878 
			 1997–98 894 
			 1996–97 865

Ministerial Visits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor (a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Indonesia, (ii) Turkey, (iii) Saudi Arabia, (iv) South Africa, (v) Chile, (vi) Argentina, (vii) Sudan, (viii) Taiwan, (ix) the UAE and (x) Cuba.

David Blunkett: As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Sudan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Cuba in his capacity as Home Secretary.

Ministerial Visits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor (a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Canada, (ii) Australia and (iii) New Zealand.

David Blunkett: As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Canada, Australia or New Zealand in his capacity as Home Secretary.

Ministerial Visits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor (a) first visited and (b) last visited, (i) Brazil, (ii) Bolivia, (iii) Mexico, (iv) Guatemala and (v) Peru.

David Blunkett: As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala or Peru in his capacity as Home Secretary.

Ministerial Visits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor (a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Rwanda, (ii) Democratic Republic of Congo, (iii) Central African Republic, (iv) Mozambique and (v) Nigeria.

David Blunkett: As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Mozambique and Nigeria in his capacity as Home Secretary.

Ministerial Visits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor (a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) South Korea and (ii) Malaysia.

David Blunkett: As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit South Korea or Malaysia in his capacity as Home Secretary.

Prostitution

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation "Setting the Boundaries"; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the current legal framework governing prostitution.

Keith Bradley: We received in excess of 650 responses to "Setting the Boundaries". Officials are now assessing these responses and we will be considering the best way to make a summary available to hon. Members once this analysis has been completed.
	We have no plans to change the law relating to prostitution at present. However, one of the 62 recommendations made to Ministers in "Setting the Boundaries" is that there should be a further review of the law on prostitution. We will be carefully considering the responses to this recommendation before reaching a decision on it.

Asylum Appeals

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was in asylum cases where an appeal was received by his Department but not subsequently sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority for each month of (a) 2001, (b) 2000 and (c) 1999.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 25 June 2001
	Information on the outcome of asylum cases where appeals were lodged with the Home Office, but not sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), is not available. Some cases in this category are withdrawn or abandoned, and a proportion is reconsidered for a variety of reasons after the appeal has been lodged with Immigration and Nationality Directory (IND). The reconsideration may result in the case not being sent to the IAA if it leads to a change in the appellant's immigration status. If in due course we find that there are a significant number of such cases, we shall consider what is the best way to publish this information once we are satisfied that it is reliable.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-Level Reforms

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she proposes to take following the Qualification and Curriculum Authority's initial report on the implementation of the A-level reforms.

Estelle Morris: Today I issued a response to the QCA's report on Curriculum 2000. That response has been placed in the Library, together with a copy of the report. The response notes that there is strong and continuing support in schools and colleges for the principles of Curriculum 2000, but also an urgent need to resolve issues in the delivery of parts of the programme, particularly the advanced subsidiary qualification. I am therefore asking the QCA to develop a combined examination paper of up to three hours for each AS where possible by summer 2002, as an alternative to the large number of individual unit papers currently offered. Where this is not possible, I am asking the QCA and the awarding bodies to look urgently at restructuring the timetable so that units of the same subject can be taken at a single sitting. Single, flexible units will remain available for those that want them. I am also asking the QCA to review specifications of subjects which are considered too heavy, to issue guidance to schools and colleges to highlight the existing flexibilities within the assessment regime, and to encourage the majority of students to take AS examinations either at the end of the first year of study or together with the examinations they take at the end of the second year. I am also asking the QCA to work with the awarding bodies to avoid as far as possible subject clashes in the examination timetable.
	The Government remain convinced of the need for all young people, whether in employment or training post-16, to be given a solid basis in the key skills of communication, application of number and IT. To ensure they are practicable for the majority of students, I am asking the QCA to take steps to reduce the volume of assessment, ensure that a greater range of proxy qualifications are accepted, and issue guidance to schools and colleges to support effective use of key skills. I am also asking the Learning and Skills Council to review urgently the funding arrangements for key skills.

Lecturers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking in conjunction with higher education institutions to improve the recruitment and retention of lecturers.

Margaret Hodge: The recruitment and retention of staff is a matter for higher education institutions. However, the Government are providing £50 million in 2001–02, rising to £110 million in 2002–03 and £170 million in 2003–04, to support increases in academic and non-academic pay. This will give higher education employers more flexibility to address recruitment and retention difficulties and modernise their reward systems.

Lecturers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements will be put in place for maintaining the value of the teaching pay initiative to further education lecturers after its expiry.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for future spending reviews. We have no plans to suspend the teaching pay initiative after 2003–04.

Lecturers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average starting pay for college lecturers was in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Figures available are derived from the FE lecturer pension scheme. The last available figures are for 1999. Details have been given for the period 1991–99.
	
		Average starting salary of full-time FE lecturers 1991–99, England and Wales
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1999 17,996 
			 1998 17,440 
			 1997 16,959 
			 1996 16,898 
			 1995 16,482 
			 1994(10) 15,985 
			 1994(11) 16,213 
			 1993 16,579 
			 1992 15,692 
			 1991 14,994 
		
	
	(10) Including sixth-form colleges.
	(11) Excluding sixth-form colleges.
	Note:
	Sixth-form colleges excluded before 1993 because they were not part of the FE sector. Included as part of the FE sector from 1994 onwards.

Competitiveness Indicators

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the indicators of the competitiveness of British higher education institutions which she uses to compare them with their overseas counterparts.

Margaret Hodge: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes international educational comparisons each year in "Education at a Glance". The 2001 edition, recently published, shows that UK higher education is characterised by high graduation rates and low non-completion rates, indicating the high quality of teaching and research and the efficiency and effectiveness of courses. This is reflected in the relative popularity of UK higher education courses among overseas students.

Learning and Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the proposed withdrawal of funding for (a) education and (b) training programmes by local learning and skills councils.

Margaret Hodge: We have received very few representations about withdrawal of funding for programmes by the Learning and Skills Council. We have received a number of representations about the LSC's new funding arrangements for work-based learning for young people. On the whole, these changes have been well received, but inevitably there will be some concerns when funding rates change. To help meet these concerns the Learning and Skills Council has put in place effective transitional arrangements that cushion the reductions in income levels of providers compared with 1999–2000.

Learning and Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she has made to transfer teaching pay initiative moneys direct from local learning and skills councils through colleges to individual teachers.

Margaret Hodge: All colleges received provisional allocations of funding in April 2001 from the Learning and Skills Council for the teaching pay initiative in 2001–02. Indicative amounts for 2002–03 and 2003–04 were issued to general FE colleges on 10 July 2001. While discussions on implementation are continuing with sixth-form colleges, the onus has been on all other colleges to come forward with a brief summary of their pay initiative implementation. LSCs cannot release the money without this and so far less than 10 per cent. of colleges have responded. Detailed arrangements for making payments to individual teachers will be implemented locally by individual colleges.

Learning and Skills Councils

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for learner representation on learning and skills councils.

Margaret Hodge: We recognise that to be successful, the Learning and Skills Council must be fully responsive to the needs of learners and potential learners. The LSC's national council and each of the 47 local LSCs include, for example, trade unionists and local authority elected members, who can represent the views and needs of learners.
	In addition, learning partnerships are already charged with ensuring that consultative mechanisms are in place to capture and articulate the views and opinions of young and adult learners, and feed these back to the LSC.
	The LSC itself is also considering what further mechanisms it needs to put in place at national and local levels to ensure that learners are effectively engaged in the new arrangements, and to advise on people's learning needs and expectations.

Learning and Skills Councils

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for greater integration between the Learning and Skills Council and the higher education funding councils; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England are already building close co-operation to widen access to higher education and to meet employers' skill needs. The two chief executives meet regularly and attend each other's council meetings as observers. The local arms of the LSC are partners with HEFCE in delivering the excellence challenge which helps able young people in deprived areas enter higher education. In addition, we welcome the contribution of representatives from the higher education sector on the LSC's national council and on 35 of its 47 local councils. The Government will encourage further joint working between the LSC and HEFCE to achieve their shared objectives.

Graduates

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of graduates for each of the last five years receiving (a) first class honours, (b) ordinary and (c) third class honours degrees in subjects related to (a) physical sciences, (b) mathematical sciences and informatics, (c) biological sciences and (d) engineering and technology were (i) home students, (ii) EU students and (iii) overseas students.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The available data are shown in the tables.
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1999–2000, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(12) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 1,553 9,061 998 687 12,299 
			 EU 111 435 71 53 670 
			 Overseas 36 144 22 13 215 
			 Total 1,700 9,640 1,091 753 13,184 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 823 2,302 442 234 3,801 
			 EU 21 88 21 14 144 
			 Overseas 34 83 22 10 149 
			 Total 878 2,473 485 258 4,094 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 1,476 14,228 801 615 17,120 
			 EU 100 768 78 34 980 
			 Overseas 28 290 25 6 349 
			 Total 1,604 15,286 904 655 18,449 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 1,929 9,688 1,148 1,804 14,569 
			 EU 200 1,579 467 499 2,745 
			 Overseas 632 2,128 280 197 3,237 
			 Total 2,761 13,395 1,895 2,500 20,551 
		
	
	(12) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1999–2000, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Percentage  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(13) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 91.4 94.0 91.5 91.2 93.3 
			 EU 6.5 4.5 6.5 7.0 5.1 
			 Overseas 2.1 1.5 2.0 1.7 1.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 93.7 93.1 91.1 90.7 92.8 
			 EU 2.4 3.6 4.3 5.4 3.5 
			 Overseas 3.9 3.4 4.5 3.9 3.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 92.0 93.1 88.6 93.9 92.8 
			 EU 6.2 5.0 8.6 5.2 5.3 
			 Overseas 1.7 1.9 2.8 0.9 1.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 69.9 72.3 60.6 72.2 70.9 
			 EU 7.2 11.8 24.6 20.0 13.4 
			 Overseas 22.9 15.9 14.8 7.9 15.8 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(13) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1998–99, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(14) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 1,435 8,979 1,086 697 12,197 
			 EU 113 436 71 48 668 
			 Overseas 37 122 21 11 191 
			 Total 1,585 9,537 1,178 756 13,056 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 783 2,332 484 308 3,907 
			 EU 34 102 23 16 176 
			 Overseas 40 102 12 13 167 
			 Total 858 2,536 519 337 4,250 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 1,356 13,425 727 602 16,110 
			 EU 75 724 50 24 873 
			 Overseas 41 284 22 29 376 
			 Total 1,472 14,433 799 655 17,359 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 1,864 10,351 1,293 1,933 15,441 
			 EU 198 1,566 349 405 2,518 
			 Overseas 814 2,630 354 255 4,053 
			 Total 2,876 14,547 1,996 2,593 22,012 
		
	
	(14) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1998–99, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Percentage  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(15) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 90.5 94.1 92.2 92.2 93.4 
			 EU 7.1 4.6 6.0 6.3 5.1 
			 Overseas 2.3 1.3 1.8 1.5 1.5 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 91.3 92.0 93.3 91.4 91.9 
			 EU 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.7 4.1 
			 Overseas 4.7 4.0 2.3 3.9 3.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 92.1 93.0 91.0 91.9 92.8 
			 EU 5.1 5.0 6.3 3.7 5.0 
			 Overseas 2.8 2.0 2.8 4.4 2.2 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 64.8 71.2 64.8 74.5 70.1 
			 EU 6.9 10.8 17.5 15.6 11.4 
			 Overseas 28.3 18.1 17.7 9.8 18.4 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(15) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1997–98, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(16) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 1,489 9,101 1,143 689 12,422 
			 EU 97 439 64 57 657 
			 Overseas 40 141 20 16 217 
			 Total 1,626 9,681 1,227 762 13,296 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 779 2,131 454 294 3,658 
			 EU 18 61 27 14 120 
			 Overseas 34 96 14 17 161 
			 Total 831 2,288 495 325 3,939 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 1,383 12,957 690 583 15,613 
			 EU 72 656 71 30 829 
			 Overseas 31 309 22 81 443 
			 Total 1,486 13,922 783 694 16,885 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 1,805 10,910 1,459 2,156 16,330 
			 EU 140 1,306 346 399 2,191 
			 Overseas 721 2,655 394 280 4,050 
			 Total 2,666 14,871 2,199 2,835 22,571 
		
	
	(16) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1997–98, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Percentage  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(17) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 91.6 94.0 93.2 90.4 93.4 
			 EU 6.0 4.5 5.2 7.5 4.9 
			 Overseas 2.5 1.5 1.6 2.1 1.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 93.7 93.1 91.7 90.5 92.9 
			 EU 2.2 2.7 5.5 4.3 3.0 
			 Overseas4.1 4.1 4.2 2.8 5.2 4.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 93.1 93.1 88.1 84.0 92.5 
			 EU 4.8 4.7 9.1 4.3 4.9 
			 Overseas 2.1 2.2 2.8 11.7 2.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 67.7 73.4 66.3 76.0 72.3 
			 EU 5.3 8.8 15.7 14.1 9.7 
			 Overseas 27.0 17.9 17.9 9.9 17.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(17) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1996–97, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(18) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 1,376 9,945 1,272 806 13,399 
			 EU 73 344 50 54 521 
			 Overseas 30 100 15 7 152 
			 Total 1,479 10,389 1,337 867 14,072 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 660 2,080 473 296 3,509 
			 EU 19 45 10 8 82 
			 Overseas 22 59 23 10 114 
			 Total 701 2,184 506 314 3,705 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 1,180 12,044 631 644 14,499 
			 EU 39 434 40 16 529 
			 Overseas 31 244 22 39 336 
			 Total 1,250 12,722 693 699 15,364 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 1,778 11,553 1,641 2,029 17,001 
			 EU 144 1,186 282 357 1,969 
			 Overseas 713 2,602 462 270 4,047 
			 Total 2,635 15,341 2,385 2,656 23,017 
		
	
	(18) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1996–97, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Percentage  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(19) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 93.0 95.7 95.1 93.0 95.2 
			 EU 4.9 3.3 3.7 6.2 3.7 
			 Overseas 2.0 1.0 1.1 0.8 1.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 94.2 95.2 93.5 94.3 94.7 
			 EU 2.7 2.1 2.0 2.5 2.2 
			 Overseas 3.1 2.7 4.5 3.2 3.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 94.4 94.7 91.1 92.1 94.4 
			 EU 3.1 3.4 5.8 2.3 3.4 
			 Overseas 2.5 1.9 3.2 5.6 2.2 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 67.5 75.3 68.8 76.4 73.9 
			 EU 5.5 7.7 11.8 13.4 8.6 
			 Overseas 27.1 17.0 19.4 10.2 17.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(19) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1995–96, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers  
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(20) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 1,318 9,617 1,286 893 13,114 
			 EU 89 322 50 45 506 
			 Overseas 20 119 18 7 164 
			 Total 1,427 10,058 1,354 945 13,784 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 696 2,278 529 306 3,809 
			 EU 18 42 14 8 82 
			 Overseas 27 99 29 22 177 
			 Total 741 2,419 572 336 4,068 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 1,065 10,840 575 551 13,031 
			 EU 38 391 27 17 473 
			 Overseas 12 192 20 73 297 
			 Total 1,115 11,423 622 641 13,801 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 1,879 12,394 1,741 2,424 18,438 
			 EU 143 990 183 276 1,592 
			 Overseas 543 2,074 404 259 3,280 
			 Total 2,565 15,458 2,328 2,959 23,310 
		
	
	(20) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
	
		First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1995–96, higher education institutions in the UK
		
			  Percentage 
			 Subject/domicile First class honours Second class honours Third class honours Pass(21) Total 
		
		
			 Physical sciences  
			 Home 92.4 95.6 95.0 94.5 95.1 
			 EU 6.2 3.2 3.7 4.8 3.7 
			 Overseas 1.4 1.2 1.3 0.7 1.2 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Mathematical sciences and informatics  
			 Home 93.9 94.2 92.5 91.1 93.6 
			 EU 2.4 1.7 2.4 2.4 2.0 
			 Overseas 3.6 4.1 5.1 6.5 4.4 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Biological sciences  
			 Home 95.5 94.9 92.4 86.0 94.4 
			 EU 3.4 3.4 4.3 2.7 3.4 
			 Overseas 1.1 1.7 3.2 11.4 2.2 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Engineering and technology  
			 Home 73.3 80.2 74.8 81.9 79.1 
			 EU 5.6 6.4 7.9 9.3 6.8 
			 Overseas 21.2 13.4 17.4 8.8 14.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(21) Pass grades include Ordinary degrees
	Source:
	HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

Trainee Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many trainee teachers (a) have been and (b) will be trained through the employment-based training route in each year from 2000–01 to 2004–05.

Stephen Timms: During 2000–01, 1,507 people entered the graduate teacher programme; 91 entered the registered teacher programme and 281 entered the overseas trained teachers scheme.
	The Government do not set targets for the number of people entering the graduate teacher programme, the registered teacher programme or the overseas trained teachers scheme. However, my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced on 12 March this year an extra 570 places on the graduate teacher programme that will bring the total, in due course, to 2,250 a year.

Trainee Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the trainee teachers undertaking the employment-based training route are from (a) the United Kingdom, (b) European Union countries and (c) other countries, indicating in each case where appropriate which subjects they are training to teach; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Information on the nationality of trainee teachers undertaking the employment-based training routes is not collected centrally.

University Grants

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the level of funding required if university grants had been maintained at their final level in (a) real terms and (b) actual terms for each of the years (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 July 2001
	If undergraduates normally resident in England and Wales currently funded under the new student support regulations had been offered a package of grants plus loans for maintenance similar to that available in 1997–98 we estimate the additional cost to the Department over the four years 1998–99 to 2001–02 to be as given in the following table.
	
		Additional funding required if maintenance grants had been maintained at their 1997–98 level
		
			   £ million  
			  In cash On a resource basis 
		
		
			 In real terms   
			 1998–99 50 100 
			 1999–2000 150 380 
			 2000–01 230 630 
			 2001–02 280 790 
			
			 In cash terms   
			 1998–99 50 100 
			 1999–2000 140 360 
			 2000–01 210 590 
			 2001–02 250 710 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures assume that contributions towards fees would be unaffected.

Departmental Title Change Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the total cost of (a) design, (b) stationery, (c) new name plaques and (d) other costs of the naming of her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 July 2001
	Estimates for the cost of design, stationery, new name plaques and other costs of the naming of the Department for Education and Skills are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 Design of marque 14,705 
			 Stationery (22)12,632 
			 New name plaques (23)5,300 
			 Other costs including Branding guidelines, web development and registration 23,420 
		
	
	(22) Production and initial stock
	(23) 18 signs on five HQ sites
	This has been carried out as economically and efficiently as possible. I believe that the connection with our customers via the identity is very important. Therefore we have chosen a clear, simple expression of what we do to help the public understand how our work affects them.

University Staff

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many academic staff, by university, left positions between 1 January and 30 March, who would have been included in the research assessment exercise submission had they been in post on 31 March; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 July 2001
	These figures are not available. However, the Higher Education Funding Council for England are analysing the research assessment exercise returns and expect to be able to provide this information by the end of August.

Student Support

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is available for intercalating students; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 July 2001
	Under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2001, full-time students who are absent from their course because of illness are entitled to continue to receive student support for the first 60 days of absence. Before academic year 1998–99 this was only 28 days. Local education authorities have the discretion to decide whether such students should continue to receive support after the first 60 days absence.
	Students who remain ill for more than a period of 28 weeks may become eligible at that stage to receive income support and housing benefit. Local education authorities have the discretion to continue support to sick students waiting to receive income support.
	LEAs also have a discretion under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2001 to continue paying student support to students who temporarily suspend their courses for reasons other than illness.
	We have made it clear in our guidance that local education authorities should exercise their discretion sympathetically in considering the cases of intercalation which come to them. Among the factors they must consider in coming to a decision is the possibility of financial hardship.
	Students who temporarily suspend their courses may also receive assistance from the hardship fund at their institution's discretion. The hardship fund allows universities and colleges to provide discretionary support for students in particular need; and a total of £87 million has been made available in England for the 2000–01 academic year.

Modern Languages

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 81W, on modern languages, how many GCSE and A-level passes, in each of the language categories and years, were obtained by students at (a) independent and (b) state schools.

Ivan Lewis: The number of GCSE and A-level passes, in each of the language categories and years, obtained by students in (a) independent and (b) state schools are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  GCSE GCE A-level  
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			  (a) Independent schools  
			 Urdu 380 435 439 508 728 56 105 23 85 113 
			 Bengali 35 36 38 37 36 — 1 2 — 2 
			 Gujarati 87 111 97 93 136 — — — — — 
			 Hindi — — — — — 3 6 4 1 — 
			 Chinese 1,243 1,283 1,203 1,112 1,277 750 677 825 888 961 
			 Any modern language 46,211 44,501 42,202 41,538 41,876 9,505 9,510 9,310 9,240 8,711 
			
			  (b) State schools
			 Urdu 5,617 5,661 5,525 5,732 5,722 231 240 182 205 226 
			 Bengali 1,939 2,061 2,011 2,056 1,967 30 26 36 9 15 
			 Gujarati 1,015 1,043 832 1,009 1,017 — — — — — 
			 Hindi — — — — — 14 3 3 3 — 
			 Chinese 493 574 546 596 593 59 72 87 107 133 
			 Any modern language 391,440 388,408 408,264 421,523 425,546 13,890 13,687 13,499 13,048 11,825

Modern Languages

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students obtained GCSE and A-level examinations in (a) Urdu, (b) Bengali, (c) Gujerati, (d) Hindi, (e) Mandarin, (f) Cantonese and (g) modern languages in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: pursuant to his reply, 3 July 2001, c. 81W
	The table contained an error. The corrected table is given as follows.
	The number of students of all ages who obtained GCSE and GCE A-level passes in the various languages over the last five years are shown in the table. Figures for Mandarin and Cantonese are not available, data for Chinese as a whole have been provided instead.
	
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 GCSE  
			 (a) Urdu 6,658 6,660 6,370 6,497 6,677 
			 (b) Bengali 2,116 2,220 2,146 2,152 2,041 
			 (c) Gujerati 1,313 1,309 1,026 1,189 1,200 
			 (d) Hindi — — — — — 
			 (e) (f) Chinese 1,956 2,048 1,937 1,917 2,028 
			 (g) All modern languages 450,244 444,639 460,186 472,010 476,050 
			   
			 GCE A-level  
			 (a) Urdu 833 837 591 746 725 
			 (b) Bengali 99 98 108 37 53 
			 (c) Gujerati — — — — — 
			 (d) Hindi 31 19 13 8 — 
			 (e) (f) Chinese 972 887 1,074 1,165 1,225 
			 (g) All modern languages 32,937 32,340 31,298 30,224 27,455

Pay Bands

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pay bands are for (a) school teachers and (b) further education college lecturers.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Main scale classroom teachers are paid on a scale from £17,001 to £24,843. We do not collect information on pay bands for further education college lecturers, however, a national review of staffing and pay in further education, undertaken by ORC International, indicates that the mean salary for full-time teachers in FE is £22,769.

Fosters Field, Sherborne

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to announce a decision on Fosters Field in Sherborne.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce a decision within the next few weeks.

Secondary Schools (Hillingdon)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in the London borough of Hillingdon have not had an offer of a secondary school place for September.

Stephen Timms: My Department does not collect this information. However, my officials have been in touch with Hillingdon local education authority, which has a duty to secure that sufficient primary and secondary schools are available for the children in its area. At present, the authority is in the process of establishing whether parents who have not accepted a place in any of the borough's own schools have accepted a place in a school in a neighbouring borough. The LEA has said that, overall, there are sufficient school places available in the borough for any local child who needs one.

AS-levels

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities have indicated that they will admit students on the basis of AS qualifications alone; and if she will list these universities.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The requested information is not currently held centrally by the Department.
	Higher education institutions establish their own admissions criteria and supply summary details relating to full-time undergraduate courses to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The data that UCAS hold about institutions and courses requiring AS qualifications alone are still subject to verification by the institutions but should be available for release in approximately four weeks time, when they will be placed in the Library.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what monitoring has taken place of the pilot areas on EMAs, including the travel EMAs; and what plans she has to extend them to enable more people to continue in further education.

Ivan Lewis: The impact of the EMA transport pilots is being thoroughly evaluated as a discrete part of the overall evaluation of the EMA scheme. We will also draw on a mapping study of current LEA transport provision for people in learning, which will be completed in the autumn.
	The evaluation of the EMA scheme is designed to cover a three year period in order to assess the impact on achievement as well as on participation and retention in further education. Initial findings from the first stage of the EMA evaluation are encouraging. We will consider the case for further expansion of the scheme in light of further evaluation and as part of the spending review.

Medical Degree Courses

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the ethnic composition of entrants to medical degree courses.

Margaret Hodge: I shall ask my officials to review with the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Council of Heads of Medical Schools, the number of applications and acceptances for ethnic minority students in medical schools in England.
	The number of medical school places was increased by 1,100 in 2000 and by a further 1,000 earlier this year. In both cases, when medical schools bid for extra places they were asked to demonstrate an active commitment to the recruitment of students from a broad range of social and ethnic backgrounds, to reflect the patterns of the population that they serve.
	Although higher education institutions are responsible for their own recruitment and admissions procedures, we have said that these should be transparent and based on published criteria so that selection is on the basis of an applicant's ability and potential. I understand that the universities are discussing progress on this issue with the Commission for Racial Equality.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Cheque Shops

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the Office of Fair Trading about the operating methods of cheque shops; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: None.

Cheque Shops

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many cheque shops (a) are and (b) were in each of the past 10 years licensed in the United Kingdom;
	(2)  how many cheque shop licenses have been withdrawn in each of the past 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: The Director General of Fair Trading does not hold records in the form specified and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Cheques Act

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact the Cheques Act 1992 has had upon those who do not have a bank account in terms of the price of credit.

Melanie Johnson: I have not made any assessment.

"Extortionate Irresponsible Lending"

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the definition of the phrase "extortionate and irresponsible lending" as used by the Office of Fair Trading.

Melanie Johnson: The Consumer Credit Act 1974 contains provisions on extortionate credit bargains in sections 137–141. There is no equivalent statutory definition of irresponsible lending. However, the Office of Fair Trading issued guidelines earlier this year containing information about the type of practices which might cause it to take regulatory action against consumer credit licence holders.

Inward Investment

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on levels of inward investment into the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, I am pleased to inform the House that Invest·UK announced in its annual review, published today, that the UK has delivered another year of outstanding inward investment performance.
	For the period between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, the number of direct investment projects by foreign owned companies into the UK reported to Invest·UK by its partner agencies in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regional development agencies totalled 869. Based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement, it is estimated that these projects will create 71,488 new jobs.
	This performance is proof of global confidence in the UK's economic and business environment. More overseas companies choose to invest here than anywhere else in Europe because the UK is the best place to do business.
	I am arranging for a copy of Invest·UK's Annual Review to be placed in the Library of the House.

Telecommunications Report

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received the report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 2000, as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

Douglas Alexander: Yes. The 17th report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2000. This includes initiatives to encourage the widespread provision of unmetered internet access and other initiatives to promote the interests of consumers and promote a competitive telecoms market. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Digital Divide

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policies she is pursuing to bridge the urban-rural digital divide; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: As set out in the rural White Paper (Chapter 7.5.2–3) it is the Government's policy to stimulate and promote industry investment in higher band width services so that as many people as possible can get faster access to the internet and other information services. Policy on the costs of access and competition in the internet access market are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. My concern is to ensure that rural areas do not lose out and we have asked the Countryside Agency to monitor the rollout of broadband in rural areas. My colleagues and I will take their assessment into account in developing policy, including consideration of the case for requiring the communications industry to make higher band-width available as part of a universal service obligation.

Foot and Mouth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the farm business advisory scheme to form D farms; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The farm business advice service is available to all farm businesses in England, including those subject to form D restrictions. However, in many parts of the country the 2001–02 budget is almost fully committed. Additional funding has been made available to fund delivery of an enhanced form of the farm business advice service to all farmers in England who have had their livestock compulsorily slaughtered under the foot and mouth disease control measures.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the numbers of vets and (b) the country from which they came who have been assisting with the foot and mouth crisis from February to date.

Elliot Morley: Foreign veterinary assistance has been provided in two ways. Governments have loaned state veterinarians to the Department. Other foreign veterinary surgeons have also been appointed as temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs).
	As of 9 July, 492 state veterinarians from the following countries have provided assistance during the foot and mouth disease outbreak:
	
		
			 Country Number 
		
		
			 Australia 76 
			 Bulgaria 10 
			 Canada 52 
			 Cuba 2 
			 Denmark 8 
			 Finland 3 
			 France 21 
			 Germany 2 
			 Hungary 19 
			 Iceland 1 
			 Ireland 18 
			 Israel 1 
			 Italy 1 
			 Netherlands 2 
			 New Zealand 25 
			 Norway 1 
			 South Africa 5 
			 Sweden 15 
			 Switzerland 5 
			 USA 225 
		
	
	As of 9 July, 386 foreign veterinary surgeons have been appointed as TVIs from abroad and they come from the following countries:
	
		
			 Country Number 
		
		
			 Australia 109 
			 Austria 7 
			 Belgium 4 
			 Canada 16 
			 Czech Republic 1 
			 Denmark 4 
			 Egypt 1 
			 France 7 
			 Germany 15 
			 Greece 3 
			 Ireland 35 
			 Israel 1 
			 Italy 10 
			 Namibia 1 
			 Netherlands 7 
			 New Zealand 50 
			 Norway 1 
			 Portugal 1 
			 South Africa 57 
			 Spain 38 
			 Sweden 1 
			 Zimbabwe 11 
			 USA 6 
		
	
	These figures do not include those foreign veterinary surgeons supplied by veterinary practices in Great Britain.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the tourist industry has made to the Government over its handling of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Alun Michael: The tourist industry is represented on the rural task force by the British Hospitality Association, the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council; ministerial colleagues from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport also attend. Under my chairmanship and, formerly, under that of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment (Mr. Meacher), the task force has frequently discussed the impact of foot and mouth disease on tourism and how Government policies might help mitigate that impact. I and colleagues have also received extensive correspondence and held numerous meetings with representatives of tourism and other industries from the worst-hit areas.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs have been lost as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak in (a) the agricultural industry and (b) rural businesses.

Alun Michael: It is too early to make a full assessment of the number of jobs lost as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak, and for many businesses the worst impacts are likely to occur over the autumn and winter period. Evidence on labour market impact suggests that broadly foot and mouth disease has slowed the rate at which unemployment is falling, through an effect on both job losses and recruitment. Local survey evidence suggests that the tourism industry in the worst affected areas has suffered a large loss of trade in the past four months, which is likely to have resulted in a fall in the number of seasonal employees in these areas, besides any business failures and permanent jobs lost.
	The Government have introduced a range of measures to help businesses cope with the impact of foot and mouth disease and will continue to assess the scope for further action through the rural task force, chaired by myself.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to protect (a) pedigree and (b) hefted sheep against infection by foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: The Government are taking every possible action to eradicate the disease and so protect flocks in the future. Also owners of rare breeds of sheep and goats and hefted sheep may apply for exemptions from the cull of contiguous premises, provided they meet certain conditions including meeting high standards of biosecurity and their animals passing serological tests. The industry itself, and all those who work among it, also have a role to play in ensuring maximum biosecurity to stop the spread of the disease.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the number and (b) country of origin of vets who returned home from MAFF/DEFRA service and had not been paid before their departure from the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: Foreign veterinary assistance has been provided in two ways. Governments have loaned state veterinarians to the Department. Terms and conditions were agreed with the relevant authorities in each country prior to the vets travelling to GB. Their salaries continue to be paid by the authorities in their own country.
	Other foreign vets have also been appointed as temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs). TVIs are paid a daily rate which is claimed retrospectively. The necessary details to allow payment of moneys due is requested at the time of appointment. Information concerning the timing of payments to individuals in relation to their date of departure from GB is not recorded.

Foot and Mouth

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of the foot and mouth outbreak has been to date.

Elliot Morley: Our current estimate (as at 9 July) of the direct cost of the outbreak to the Exchequer is around £2.2 billion. Among other things, this includes cost of disinfection and cleansing as well as compensation for compulsory slaughter of affected livestock.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  of the contiguous culls in Worcestershire, how many have occurred around premises believed to be infected with foot and mouth disease, but which subsequently were shown to be negative in laboratory tests;
	(2)  how many contiguous culls occurred in Worcestershire after negative laboratory tests for foot and mouth disease relating to the premises believed to be infected.

Elliot Morley: Information is available only for Hereford and Worcester. Of 66 infected premises, 43 were tested, of which 30 returned negative laboratory results. These 30 cases remain designated as infected premises and are associated with 119 contiguous premises.
	An infected premises is one where foot and mouth disease has either been diagnosed by a vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence, or where disease is found after testing. However, a negative laboratory result does not necessarily mean that the disease was not present and does not change the status of infected premises confirmed on clinical diagnosis.
	When figures are available for Worcestershire, they will be forwarded to the hon. Gentleman.

Cleaning Services Group

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will make a decision on the holding of a public inquiry into the explosion at the Cleaning Services Group Ltd., Sandhurst, Gloucester; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 9 July 2001
	I fully understand the concerns of local residents about the incident and their calls for a public inquiry. We are considering this issue in the light of the latest progress report into the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive's joint investigation of the incidents. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Tigers (Thailand)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the risk to tigers in Thailand and the performance of the authorities in that country in enforcing agreements for the survival of the species; what representations Her Majesty's Government have made on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: A copy of the Environment Investigation Agency's (EIA) report "Thailand's Tiger Economy" was sent to my Department in June. Since then we have received no representations on the risk to tigers in Thailand and the performance of the authorities in that country; nor have we made representations on this matter.
	The UK is committed to supporting tiger conservation worldwide but we cannot intervene directly in the protection afforded to them in other countries. However, we do work closely with other countries to promote tiger conservation through our membership of such organisations as the Global Tiger Forum (an Indian-based consortium of tiger range states and others dedicated to promoting the conservation of tigers in the wild) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). We have contributed over £150,000 to a number of tiger initiatives over the last three years, including £40,000 to help CITES establish a tiger enforcement task force to combat illicit trade in tigers worldwide.
	The UK participated as an observer at a recent meeting in Paris of the CITES standing committee where the EIA's report on Thailand's tigers was made available to the committee.

Energy Crops

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to encourage energy crops.

Michael Meacher: Our energy crops scheme provides grants to encourage planting of short-rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus, and setting up SRC producer groups. Early uptake in the scheme depends on the markets created by projects funded under the non-fossil fuels obligation and six projects utilising energy crops have potential to make progress. Just over 230 hectares of energy crops have been planted under the scheme this year and we have two applications for producer group funding. We are working closely with industry and others to develop electricity and heat markets and promote uptake. A good example of this is the community renewables initiative announced by the Countryside Agency on 9 July which will stimulate community based partnerships to develop renewable energy, including energy crops, in their localities.

The Soil Association

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the Soil Association.

Alun Michael: holding answer 3 July 2001
	Officials met the director of the Soil Association and senior colleagues on 21 June. The meeting was primarily an opportunity for the Soil Association to brief the Department on recent initiatives and activities. We warmly welcome continuing contacts of this sort.

Energy Efficiency

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of investment in (a) insulation and other energy efficiency measures in the home and (b) expansion of the gas network on (i) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) alleviating fuel poverty, (iii) upgrading housing stock and (iv) the creation of jobs.

Michael Meacher: Government investment in domestic energy efficiency in this year will be around £190 million. In addition this year, local authorities plan to spend about £1.7 billion on capital works to their housing stock, some of which will contribute to improving energy efficiency.
	The Government's climate change programme, published last November, estimated domestic energy savings of between 3.9 and 5.2 million tonnes of carbon per year in 2010.
	It is estimated that the new home energy efficiency scheme, the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in England, will save 0.2 million tonnes of carbon per year and treat a target of 800,000 homes over the period from 2000–04.
	It is also proposed that 50 per cent. of the benefit of the energy efficiency commitment for 2002–05 should be concentrated on a priority group, including the fuel poor.
	A recent report by the Energy Saving Trust, which looked at seven schemes, estimated that for every £1 million of expenditure in energy efficiency, including private investment, between 10 and 58 jobs are directly created.
	The Government are very aware of the potentially valuable contribution which the extension of the gas network could make to tackling all of these issues. It has set up a working group with representatives from Government, Ofgem, the gas industry and consumer bodies to look at the feasibility of extending the gas network where it is viable to do so. This group is not due to report until October and no decisions have yet been taken on investment.

PRIME MINISTER

Constituency Visits

Andrew George: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the communities of west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the St. Ives constituency.

Tony Blair: I have no plans at present to do so.

Rough Sleepers Unit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister who has ministerial responsibility for the rough sleepers unit.

Tony Blair: Lord Falconer of Thornton, Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, has responsibility for the rough sleepers unit. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the same Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble), answers on the subject in this House.

Champions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 31W, on champions, if he will list the champions.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Voting Systems

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 93W, on voting systems, if it is his policy to hold a formal review of the voting systems for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the European Parliament, and the London Assembly within the lifetime of this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Working Peers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what his definition is of a working peer.

Tony Blair: The overriding criterion I apply in recommending Labour working peers is that the individual concerned should be able to make a significant contribution to the work of the House of Lords.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensions Education Campaign

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the report of the quantitative tracking research on the pensions education campaign will be published.

Ian McCartney: A summary of quantitative tracking research on the pensions education marketing campaign will be placed in the Library later in the summer.

Hospital Downrating

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2001, Official Report, column 269W, on hospital downrating, how many people would benefit in each case.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table.
	
		The estimated number of people who would benefit from the abolition of hospital downrating
		
			  Retirement pension Incapacity benefit Severe disablement allowance 
		
		
			 Estimated numbers benefiting from abolition of 6–52 weeks downrating 21,000 7,000 14,000 
			 Estimated numbers benefiting from abolition of over 52 weeks downrating 11,000 3,000 10,000 
			 Total number of beneficiaries 31,000 11,000 25,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Caseload estimates source: 5 per cent. from the relevant computer systems in 2000.
	2. Numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	3. Numbers may not sum due to rounding.

Incapacity Benefit

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on what criteria persons will be (a) selected for triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit, (b) passed for continued receipt and (c) rejected for future claims;
	(2)  what opportunities will be offered for (a) access to work, (b) additional rehabilitation and (c) additional training for those rejected for Incapacity Benefit in triennial screening;
	(3)  what the proposed timetable and arrangements are for (a) consultation and (b) implementation of changes in Incapacity Benefit;
	(4)  what consultations took place, and on what dates, with disability organisations before the announcement of Government plans for Incapacity Benefit on 4 July;
	(5)  what categories of disabled persons will be exempt from the requirement for triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit;
	(6)  what the cost of triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit will be (a) per individual case and (b) in total annual expenditure.

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation he had with groups representing disabled people prior to his announcement of his plans to reform Incapacity Benefit.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Incapacity Benefit reviews were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate of the annual additional number of reviews that will be undertaken once his plans for reviews every three years are fully implemented.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 9 and 10 July 2001
	The Government are committed to ensuring there is full employment and opportunity for all. This means we must extend the necessary help and support to all people of working age who are out of the labour market.
	In the past, many people were moved onto Incapacity Benefit with limited help to make sure that they got the right level of support. There was no help to get people into work, nor any support or rehabilitation. Yet as the Disability Rights Commission has said, one million disabled people say they would like to work. We have a duty to help them to do so.
	From October, the first pathfinder offices of jobcentre plus will open to strengthen the services available to help people back to work. It will be a condition of benefit in these offices that all new IB claimants attend a work focused interview to discuss what options people have around work and inform them of the help available. I can announce today that regulations under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 will be laid before both Houses in the autumn. These will include a provision that no one should go more than three years without a review of their circumstances and an interview unless there are good reasons, such as the state of their health. The regulation will set out how these reviews will be implemented. Each case will be looked at on an individual basis: a further work focused interview and/or personal capability assessment will be carried out where appropriate. All new IB claimants will be affected by these changes and will be told they are subject to the regular review, initially in the 50 pathfinder sites but then rolled out nationally.
	At present, cases are looked at again if their medical condition is expected to improve. But some categories of case are exempt from medical testing. The changes I am announcing today do not change these exemptions. However, they will ensure that there is a review at least every three years to make sure people are getting all the help they need.
	I will publish an explanatory memorandum when the regulations are laid which will be placed in the Library of both Houses. We will also discuss with groups representing disabled people the precise administrative arrangements that will underpin the regulations. Operational information will become available when the pathfinder offices open.

Age Discrimination

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to implement EU Council directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 on age discrimination; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government intend, in line with the European employment directive (2000/78/EC), to introduce legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment and training and will start public consultations later this year.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Special Advisers

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget for special advisers' salaries was in Government Departments in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2001–02.

Christopher Leslie: The estimated pay bill for special advisers for 2001–02 is £4.4 million. The pay bill for special advisers in 1996–97 was £1.8 million.

Online Services

Tony McWalter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the contribution of the e-envoy to the delivery of Government services online.

Barbara Roche: The Government are committed to getting services online by 2005 to ensure that the country, its citizens and its businesses derive maximum benefit from the knowledge economy. The e-envoy makes a valuable contribution towards this commitment, among others, through ensuring that the momentum in meeting it is maintained by working with Departments on developing their e-business plans.

Online Services

Colin Challen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets he has set for the delivery of Government services online.

Barbara Roche: The Prime Minister has set a target that 100 per cent. of Government services to the citizen and business should be available electronically, and in a customer-focused form, by 2005.
	Major achievements have been made towards the overall aim of delivering 100 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2005.
	These include:
	42 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now (73 per cent. by 2002 and 100 per cent. by 2005);
	the creation of the ukonline citizen portal and the Government Gateway.
	26.

Online Services

Brian White: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on reaching the targets for electronic delivery of Government services.

Barbara Roche: Major progress has been made towards the overall aim of delivering 100 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2005.
	These include:
	42 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now (moving to 73 per cent. by 2002 and 100 per cent. by 2005);
	the creation of the ukonline citizen portal and the Government Gateway.

Social Exclusion (Brent)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of Government policies in combating social exclusion in Brent.

Barbara Roche: Brent is benefiting from a variety of Government initiatives to tackle social exclusion including New Deal for Communities funding of £50 million over 10 years, a Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocation of more than £5 million over the next three years, a Sure Start programme in central Brent since 2000, and another shortly in south Kilburn.

Information and Communication Service

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of the Government Information and Communication Service.

Christopher Leslie: The Government Information and Communication Service is a network of communication specialists working in Departments and agencies. Their role, as outlined in the guidance on the work of the GIS, is to ensure that the policies and actions of the Government of the day are fully explained and presented.

Rough Sleepers

Linda Perham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of progress on the rough sleepers strategy following the social exclusion unit report on this issue.

Barbara Roche: In 1998, there were approximately 1,850 people rough sleeping in England. In June 2000, published figures indicated that approximately 1,180 people were sleeping rough. This represents a 36 per cent. reduction. The Rough Sleepers Unit will publish updated figures in due course in relation to counts carried out this year.

UK Online

Richard Allan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the progress of the UK Online project.

Christopher Leslie: UK Online strategy is the Government's comprehensive programme for success in the information age, delivered in partnership with other central Government Departments, local government, agencies, and the private and voluntary sectors.
	The strategy was published as part of the e-Minister and e-envoy's first Annual Report. It set out a range of recommendations for action across the e-agenda.
	The e-envoy and the e-Minister report monthly to the Prime Minister on progress towards meeting the UK Online strategy.
	Important elements of the UK Online strategy include the ukonline.gov.uk, the Citizen's Portal, the Government Gateway, which deliver round the clock, customer- focused government services, and UK online for business, which offers expert advice to SMEs on how best to take advantage of the benefits of e-commerce.

Cabinet Office Delivery Unit

Julian Brazier: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the studies being carried out by the Cabinet Office delivery unit.

Christopher Leslie: The unit has been set up to help ensure the Government achieve our key objectives in the areas of health, education, law and order and transport. It is currently establishing its future work programme.

Cabinet Office Delivery Unit

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the Policy Delivery Unit based in the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Delivery Unit, led by Michael Barber, reports to the Prime Minister under the day-to-day supervision of Lord Macdonald. It will help ensure that the Government achieves key objectives in the areas of health, education, law and order and transport, so that their ambitious programme of public service reform is translated into real improvements on the ground.

Business Regulation

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for reviewing the impact of regulation on business and employees.

Christopher Leslie: Since 1997, the Better Regulation Task Force has reviewed the impact of regulations in a number of areas ranging from farming to e-commerce, and will continue to do so.
	In addition, our manifesto for business contains a commitment to require Departments and agencies to review the impact and working of major pieces of regulation within three years of implementation. We are currently considering the best way to take this commitment forward.

Government Departments (Regions)

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to move Government Departments out of London to the regions.

Barbara Roche: There are no such plans.
	Individual Departments and agencies are free to make their own decisions about location and facilities on the basis of operational requirements and value for money.

Regional Government

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish a White Paper on regional government in England.

Barbara Roche: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W.

Best Value

Andrew Miller: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to improve Best Value criteria in respect of public services that have a cross-departmental impact.

Barbara Roche: The Government have been consistent in promoting a cross-departmental approach to improving public services across the whole of the public sector. Increasingly, Government Departments are working together to improve services with overall needs of citizens at the forefront of their thinking. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 25 June 2001 a new series of cross-cutting reviews, building on the initiatives addressed in the previous spending round, and local service delivery has received particular attention. Best Value performance plans will set out how local authorities will approach joined-up community planning. Local strategic partnerships continue to be a key contribution to cross- cutting delivery. The extension of Local Public Service Agreements will provide further opportunities for improving services.

Public Service Delivery

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the roles of the Cabinet Office in ensuring that public expenditure delivers effective public services complement that of the Treasury.

Christopher Leslie: The Cabinet Office has no separate rules which govern our involvement in monitoring delivery of public services. The Chancellor of the Exchequer chairs the Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure (PSX) which has overall responsibility for monitoring delivery. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are members of that Committee and my officials work closely with Treasury officials to support and inform the Committee's considerations.

Public-Private Sector Exchanges

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the scheme for interchange between civil servants and private sector workers will operate in the next four years.

Christopher Leslie: The Interchange Steering Council met on 18 January 2001. The Council endorsed the Interchange Unit's strategy: to promote interchange with the private sector as well as the wider public sector and the voluntary sector; to further develop the Departmental Interchange Managers Network; to address barriers to Interchange, and to monitor and evaluate the impact on both individuals and organisations. It was also suggested that the Unit do more to develop Interchange regionally and sectorally. It is intended that this approach will be followed over the next four years.

Regulatory Reform

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further regulatory reform he plans to introduce following the implementation of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001.

Christopher Leslie: A proposal for relaxing licensing laws for this coming New Year's Eve was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 28 June.
	During the passage of the Regulatory Reform Bill through Parliament, the Government placed in the Library of the House a list of 51 proposals that could be implemented using the power contained in the Act. I expect to see many of these brought forward over the coming months and to see more proposals being added to the list.
	Consultation on all of these proposals under section 5 of the 2001 Act has recently ended, with the exception of that for Voluntary Aided (VA) schools in England which ends in August.
	A further five proposals from the list of 51 are currently being prepared for consultation.
	Further information on potential Orders made under the Act can be found on the Cabinet Office website at: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/act/examples.htm.

Devolution

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities with respect to regional devolution.

Barbara Roche: The Prime Minister has asked my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to be responsible for a White Paper on Regional Governance, in close liaison with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and in co-operation with other Cabinet colleagues. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is also responsible for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and has overall responsibility for the Government Office network.

Programme Delivery

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has to review the co-ordination and delivery of Government and EU programmes in areas of high social and economic disadvantage.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the final paragraph of my answer of 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 314W.

Climate Change

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next expects to discuss further development on climate change negotiations with the US Administration.

Barbara Roche: Ministers keep in close touch with the US and will be discussing further developments on climate change again at the sixth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (COP6).

Climate Change

Damian Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what responsibility he has for developing the UK's climate change strategy;
	(2)  what plans he has to visit international conferences relating to climate change in the next 12 months;
	(3)  when he next intends to meet the French Environment Minister for discussions on climate change.

John Prescott: I will continue to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minster.

Websites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action is being taken to ensure Government Departments better utilise websites.

Barbara Roche: The Office of the e-Envoy has taken a number of steps to improve the use of departmental websites:
	We have established an infrastructure:
	The UK online portal (ukonline.gov.uk) provides the public with in-depth access to UK Government information and services on-line
	The Government Gateway will enable users to make secure electronic transactions.
	We have published a range of supporting guidance, including:
	The Government Interoperability Framework, which reflects best practice and adopts Internet and World Wide Web standards
	The Government Metadata Framework, to help citizens find our services and information without having to know which Department is directly responsible for it; and
	Guidelines for UK Government websites, which advise best practice in order to achieve government's aims for online services.

Women's Unit

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for overseeing the work of the Cabinet Office women's unit.

Christopher Leslie: The Deputy Prime Minister does not oversee the work of the Women's Unit. The work of the Women's Unit is overseen by Baroness Morgan and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who reports directly to the Prime Minster on women's and equality issues.

Ministerial Replies

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanism exists for ensuring that replies are sent to members of the public who write to Ministers.

Christopher Leslie: All Departments have standards in place setting the maximum time it should take to answer correspondence from the public. Performance against these standards is monitored and the results published.

Departmental Responsibilities

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the Government agencies and units for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the responsibilities of each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will set out his Department's responsibilities;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase the number of units run from within his Department.

John Prescott: I head a new office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. I am supported by a Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), by a Parliamentary Secretary, my hon Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) and by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston CBE and Baroness Morgan of Huyton for business in the House of Lords. As First Secretary of State I will continue to deputise for the Prime Minister as required, drawing on the resources of other parts of the Cabinet Office as necessary. I will oversee the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, which reports to the Prime Minister through me. I am also responsible for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the nine Government offices of the Regions.
	On international matters I will support the Prime Minister by seeing visiting dignitaries; undertaking overseas visits; and overseeing the work of the International Public Service Unit. I also carry ministerial responsibility for the British-Irish Council and will deputise as necessary for the Prime Minister at meetings of the Council. I will continue to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minister. In addition, I will chair new Cabinet Committees on Domestic Affairs and on Nations and the Regions; and new sub-Committees on Social Exclusion and Regeneration and on Energy Policy. I will continue to chair the Committee on the Environment.
	The Minister of State in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office supports me across the full range of my duties. She will, in particular, oversee the work of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices in the Regions, reporting to me on the development of their role and on the work of the regional network of the COI. She will lead on projects arising out of the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, be responsible for the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit, and will be sponsor Minister for a number of PIU projects. She will also be a member of a number of Cabinet Committees, including those on the regions and social exclusion.
	The Parliamentary Secretary will support the Minister of State and me across the range of our duties. He will also support Lord Macdonald and will be the Minister answerable in the Commons for day-to-day decisions on the Civil Service under the Prime Minister as Minister for the Civil Service.
	Baroness Morgan of Huyton, Deputy Minister for Women, will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as the Cabinet Minister for Women on: the day-to-day oversight of the Women and Equality Unit and sponsorship of the Women's National Commission. She will co-ordinate equality issues across Whitehall as Chair of a new Cabinet Sub- Committee on Equality. She will also have responsibility for implementation of Article 13 (reporting to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) and cross-cutting equality issues (on behalf of the three lead equality Ministers).
	The right hon. Lord Macdonald of Tradeston CBE, as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reports direct to the Prime Minister. He has day-to-day responsibility for the work of the Delivery Unit, which supports the Prime Minister on matters to do with the delivery of public services. He will work closely with me as appropriate on related cross-cutting issues covered by the Cabinet Committees under my chairmanship. He is also responsible for the work of the Regulatory Impact Unit; and the e-envoy's unit's work on e-government. He will chair the Panel on Regulatory Accountability and will jointly chair a new Ministerial Group on the Manchester Commonwealth Games with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
	The Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Richard Wilson, will continue to report direct to the Prime Minister on the work of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee Secretariats; the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Single Intelligence Vote for which he is the Accounting Officer; and the corporate management of the Civil Service (including the Government Information and Communication Service); the honours system; the Performance and Innovation Unit, which reports through him to the Prime Minister and which will provide support to the new Forward Strategy Unit in Number 10; and the new Office of Public Services Reform which will similarly report through him to the Prime Minister.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's responsibilities are in relation to (a) setting and monitoring the public service agreements of Government Departments and (b) holding each Department to account; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibilities in respect of the monitoring of the performance of Departments against targets set out in public service agreements.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 95W.

Performance and Innovation Unit

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those seconded to the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit to work on the current study of renewable energy, indicating in each case their qualifications.

Christopher Leslie: There are seven secondees and two external advisers working in the Performance and Innovation Unit on the current study of resource productivity and renewable energy.
	The Performance and Innovation Unit undertakes a wide search to select the most suitably qualified secondees for its projects and while it is current government practice not to disclose information on individual qualifications, details of those seconded to this particular project are on the Performance and Innovation Unit website.
	They are:
	Civil Service Secondees
	Catriona Laing—Department for International Development
	Ian Coates—Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Private and Voluntary Sector or Academic Secondees
	Samantha Armstrong—Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
	Nick Eyre—Energy Saving Trust
	Robert Gross—Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology
	Dr. Catherine Mitchell—Warwick Business School
	William Nickerson—Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
	External Advisers
	Professor Jake Chapman—Professor of Energy Systems at the Open University
	Ian Christie—Associate Director with the consultancy Local Futures Group.

Social Exclusion Unit

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his assessment is of the impact to date of the Social Exclusion Unit; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: The Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Prime Minister to provide solutions to specific social exclusion problems. It has completed reports on reducing truancy and school exclusions, cutting teenage pregnancy rates, reducing numbers of rough sleepers and of 16 to 18-year-olds not in training, work or education, as well as co-ordinating the work of 18 Policy Action Teams and developing the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.
	The initial review of the unit in 1999 found the quality of its reports to be exceptional and its working practices to be a strength. There is now concrete evidence that the implementation of the unit's policies is making a significant impact on the ground.
	Examples include falling rates of permanent exclusion from school (down by nearly a third in 1999–2000 compared with 1996–97) and reduced numbers sleeping rough (down by more than a third since 1998). 1999 teenage pregnancy rates for under-16s and under-18s dropped on the previous year (down 7 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively). Fewer teenage parents were out of training, learning or work last year compared with the previous four. And the 10 to 20 year strategy for England's poorest neighbourhoods is now being implemented by the new Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.
	The unit is currently working on four projects—on reducing rates of reoffending among ex-prisoners, on young runaways, on improving the educational attainment of children in care, and on transport and social exclusion.

Regional Co-ordination Unit

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Regional Co-ordination Unit.

John Prescott: The Regional Co-ordination Unit's Action Plan published in October 2000 identified four key areas where the Government needed to take a new approach to developing and implementing regional policy: better co-ordination of area-based initiatives; involvement of Government offices more directly in policy-making; making the Government offices the key representatives of Government in the regions; and establishing the Regional Co-ordination Unit as the unified head office for the Government offices.
	The Regional Co-ordination Unit is taking forward action in these four areas in liaison with the Government offices and Government Departments.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Legal Services Ombudsman

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the annual report of the Legal Services Ombudsman for 2000–01.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Ombudsman has today published her 10th annual report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the Houses.

1911 Decennial Census

John Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many hon. Members have made representations to the Lord Chancellor this year to use his powers to open the 1911 Decennial Census records in 2002; and what the Lord Chancellor's response has been.

Rosie Winterton: This year, the Lord Chancellor has received no letters from hon. Members concerning the 1911 Decennial Census records.

TREASURY

Private Finance Initiative

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 169W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), on the private finance initiative, if he will place a copy of the National Audit Office study concerning the private finance initiative in the Library.

Andrew Smith: I am sorry that my written answer of 4 July to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) contained an inadvertent error. I mistakenly referred to a NAO report on PFI and value for money, when the information concerned was in fact set out in references to NAO value-for-money studies in the Arthur Andersen report that looked at value for money drivers in the private finance initiative. This report was published in January 2000.
	The Arthur Andersen report referred to all 11 reports on specific UK PFI projects that the NAO had produced by the end of 1999. Seven of these NAO reports judged the projects value for money against a public sector comparator (PSC). Three of the 11 projects did not have a PSC: in two cases, they pre-dated the relevant Treasury guidance on the preparation of PSCs; in the third case, the inception of the project pre-dated the Treasury guidance, and no formal PSC was prepared but an internal value for money appraisal was undertaken. One report was not a NAO value-for-money study, so did not examine the PSC. Analysis of the seven NAO reports that did compare costs against a PSC showed an average PFI cost saving of 20 per cent.

Crown Estate Commissioners

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Crown Estate Commissioners have afforded to Ipswich borough council in their appeal to the High Court in respect of their right to levy mooring charges.

Andrew Smith: While the Crown Estate has, at the council's request, provided some historic information about its own mooring charges, it has afforded no assistance, financial or otherwise, to the council in the preparation of its case to the Court of Appeal. The Crown Estate has, however, sought leave to intervene in the hearing in its own right, given its legitimate interest in the matters of principle raised by the case.

Crown Estate Commissioners

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure the Crown Estate Commissioners have incurred in each of the last 10 years in maintenance of the Lymington river bed and foreshore.

Andrew Smith: The Crown Estate owns the foreshore and bed of the tidal stretch of the river, but has no statutory duty to maintain it and no expenditure has been committed. Maintenance of the river bed and foreshore is the responsibility of the Lymington harbour commissioners, who manage the river as a small trust port in accordance with the Lymington Pier and Harbour Order 1951. The Crown has assisted the harbour commissioners in fulfilling their duties, by granting the commissioners a lease of the foreshore and bed of the river.

Child Poverty

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children, resulting from an increase in the threshold level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to (i) £120, (ii) £150 and (iii) £200.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to measure accurately the impact on child poverty of individual changes to the tax and benefit system. The margins of error surrounding these estimates are too large. Taken as a whole, the personal tax and benefit measures introduced over the last Parliament will have lifted over 1.2 million children out of relative poverty.

Working Families Tax Credit (Threshold)

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of increasing the threshold level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated annual costs are (a) £0.7 billion, (b) £1.3 billion and (c) £2.5 billion.

Household Income

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the incomes of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase in the threshold level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated percentage increases in income are shown in the following table. Each row of the table covers families in households in the decile group defined by the ranking of all households by equivalised net income before housing costs. The percentage increases shown are of the total net income of all families of that type and in that decile group.
	
		Percentage 
		
			 Equivalised  Lone parents Couples with children  
			 income  Income threshold raised to: Income threshold raised to: 
			 decile group of households (a) £120 (b) £150 (c) £200 (a) £120 (b) £150 (c) £200 
		
		
			 Bottom 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 2 0 0 0 2 4 6 
			 3 1 1 1 3 7 13 
			 4 2 3 4 2 5 11 
			 5 3 6 9 0 1 4 
			 6 3 6 11 0 0 1 
			 7 2 4 8 0 0 0 
			 8 1 2 4 0 0 0 
			 9 and top 0 1 1 0 0 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	The estimates are based on the 1999–2000 Family Resources Survey with incomes projected forward to 2001–02. The decile groups are of all households ranked by net income before housing costs (including WFTC with the current threshold of £92.90) equivalised using the McClements scale. The percentage increases are of net family incomes (not equivalised). The sample sizes are too small to yield reliable separate estimates for lone parents in the top two decile groups.

EU Budget

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral statement of the Economic Secretary of 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 229, regarding the net contributions of the UK, France and Italy to the EU Budget, if he will make a statement on the net contributions of (a) the UK, (b) France and (c) Italy to the EU Budget in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 and the projected net contributions in each case to 2006.

Ruth Kelly: The United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget in 1999 was 5.3 billion euro. The net contributions of France and Italy in 1999 were 1.2 billion euro and 1.8 billion euro respectively. Equivalent figures in respect of 2000 are not yet available. These will be available in November this year, when the European Court of Auditors publishes its annual report.
	As the level of EC spending in any particular year is dependent on the annual budget-setting process, the Government do not forecast the contribution of other member states on an annual basis and comparable estimates are not therefore available for each of the years 2001–06. However, based on 1999 prices, the spending ceilings and the new system of own resources agreed at the Berlin European Council in March 1999 and the Berlin assumption of an enlargement taking in six new member states, it is estimated that the net contribution of France in 2006 will be around 5 per cent. of the EC Budget and that of Italy around 4 per cent. Based on the same assumptions, the United Kingdom's net contribution in 2006 would be around 5 per cent. of the EC Budget. In 1999, the United Kingdom's share was 6.41 per cent. compared with France (1.41 per cent.) and Italy (2.12 per cent.).

Windfall Levy

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income his Department has received from the windfall levy.

Paul Boateng: The windfall tax on the privatised utility companies raised £5.2 billion.

VAT

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the VAT threshold for small businesses.

Paul Boateng: Representations are made regularly about the level of the VAT registration threshold. In 1998, Customs carried out a consultation exercise to seek the views of business and their representative bodies on the effects and level of the VAT registration threshold.